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Punjab to Offer 33% Subsidy on Bt Cotton Seeds to Support FarmersThe Punjab government has announced a 33% subsidy on Bt cotton hybrid seeds to provide relief to farmers and encourage the adoption of high-quality seeds. The subsidy will be applicable only on hybrids recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana.Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated that ₹20 crore has been allocated for the scheme. The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on farmers, promote high-yielding and pest-resistant Bt cotton seeds, and discourage the use of non-recommended hybrids.The state has set a target to expand cotton cultivation to at least 1.25 lakh hectares this year. Cotton, a key kharif crop in southwestern Punjab, is being promoted as a sustainable alternative to water-intensive paddy, supporting crop diversification and long-term agricultural growth.According to Basant Garg, Administrative Secretary of the Agriculture Department, the subsidy will be limited to a maximum of five acres or ten seed packets per farmer, with each packet weighing 475 grams.Farmers have been advised to obtain proper purchase bills for all seed transactions. Meanwhile, officials have been directed to conduct regular monitoring and inspections to prevent the circulation of spurious seeds from neighboring states.read more :-CCI Cotton Sales Update for Season 2024-25

Cotton Corporation of India – 2024-25 Sales UpdateThe Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has sold 23,88,700 bales of cotton so far in the current season 2024-25. This accounts for approximately 24% of the total cotton procured this year.The state-wise breakdown of bales sold by CCI mentioned in the above postThis data reflects significant movement in cotton sales, particularly from Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat, which together account for over 85% of total sales so far.This data showcases CCI’s active role in stabilizing the cotton market across major producing states.read more :-Indian rupee opens 26 paise higher at 85.11 against US dollar

Rupee Opens Stronger, Gains 26 Paise to 85.11 Against US DollarThe local currency opened at 85.11 against the US dollar, as compared to 85.37 against greenback at previous close.Indian rupee opened 26 paise up on April 21 after the dollar index, which measures American currency's value against six major global peers, fell sharply to over three years low.read more :-Indian cotton is the most expensive in the world market, cotton imports will increase

India’s Costly Cotton Drives Sharp Rise in ImportsIndia is witnessing a notable increase in cotton imports as domestic prices remain relatively high compared to global markets, while production is showing signs of decline. This combination has led to greater reliance on overseas supply to meet internal demand.Industry data indicates a significant jump in imports in recent months. Cotton imports rose to $184.64 million in January 2025, compared to just $19.62 million in January 2024. Earlier, imports stood at $104 million in August 2024,reflecting a steady upward trend.The rise in imports is being attributed to two key factors: higher domestic cotton prices in India compared to international markets, and a decline in local production. With cotton consumption remaining strong in the country, imports are being used to bridge the supply gap.Estimates also suggest that India’s cotton imports may reach 2.5 million bales in the 2024–25 marketing year, up from 1.75 million bales in the previous year.Meanwhile, the global cotton market, valued at $41.78 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to $42.92 billion in 2025, indicating steady international demand.Overall, India’s rising imports highlight the pressure created by lower domestic output and relatively higher local prices, forcing increased dependence on global cotton markets.read more :-Cotton University receives prestigious PAIR grant

Cotton University Awarded Prestigious PAIR GrantGuwahati: Cotton University has received the prestigious PAIR grant from the National Research Foundation for Research. The grant, shared among six institutions, has made JNU the hub institution, while Cotton University, Tezpur University, Central University of Punjab, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University and Berhampur University have been given the status of spoke institutions.Cotton University has been allocated around Rs 14 crore under the five-year PAIR programme. The funding includes three sophisticated research instruments - a 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer, photoluminescence spectrophotometer and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).According to Cotton University, these advanced instruments will enhance their research capabilities, especially in material science and chemical/biological analysis. Through this collaboration, the university will also benefit from access to advanced research infrastructure and specialist expertise at JNU and other partner institutions.A release from Cotton University on Thursday said, "The PAIR grants, aimed at promoting collaborative and high-impact research in India's leading institutions, were awarded following a rigorous multi-stage selection process held at the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru, and overseen by ANRF on March 7-8, 2025. Out of the 30 hub institutions shortlisted for presentations based on their excellent NIRF rankings, only seven were finally selected, judged on the merit of their presentations and demonstrated research excellence." This grant represents a significant achievement for Cotton University, its first major national research grant since receiving 'A' grade NAAC accreditation in September 2024. The university submitted a successful proposal involving 11 major research projects in three interdisciplinary areas - advanced materials, molecular and synthetic biology, and environmental sustainability. These projects involve 22 faculty members from seven science departments. Dr. Abdul Wahab led the proposal and collaborative structure as the Principal Investigator from Cotton University, and Professor Ramesh Choudhary Deka, Vice Chancellor of Cotton University provided strategic direction and support.read more :- Punjab farmers may cut cotton acreage despite artificial intelligence-driven project to control pest attacks

Punjab Farmers May Slash Cotton Acreage Despite AI Pest Control ProjectCotton acreage in Punjab has declined significantly over the years – from 2.68 lakh hectares (lh) in 2018-19 to 0.97 lh in 2024-25There has been some reduction in cases of pest attacks after a pilot project was launched last season to monitor and control pink bollworm (PBW) infestation in cotton crop in Punjab.But, the response from farmers is mixed, as some of them have complained that it did not help control PBW. As a result, they suffered losses. However, there is unanimity among them to reduce cotton acreage, partly due to PBW and mainly due to unavailability of water.“Though the machine helped us get timely alerts, PBW could not be controlled even after spray,” said Beant Singh, a farmer from Sri Muktsar Sahib district. He said they will reduce the area under cotton to 5-6 acres this year from the earlier 15-16 acres, mainly because of PBW and also water problem. He said the yield has dropped significantly, reducing their profit as they are cultivating land on lease.Significant drop in acreageOn the other hand, Roop Singh from Faridkot district said they are planning to reduce cotton acreage to 6-7 acres from last year’s 15 acres due to water availability, but he praised the government’s pilot project which helped manage PBW and also reduced their expenditure on pesticides.The area under cotton in Punjab has declined substantially in the last few years – from 2.68 lakh hectares (LH) in 2018-19 to 0.97 LH in 2024-25, resulting in a reduction in production also from 12.22 lakh bales (each of 170 kg) to 2.72 lakh bales. The main reason for the increase in PBW, a highly destructive pest of cotton, is the piling up of cotton crop residues near the fields.This increases the level of infestation, especially when cotton stalks, closed bolls and lint residues are piled up near agricultural fields, allowing the larvae to survive through diapause and emerge in large numbers during the next crop season.Pilot evaluationAs per the evaluation of the project results, the implementation helped in significantly improving pest identification, management efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional methods – reduction in pesticide use by 38.6 per cent while PBW damage was kept under control and yield increased by 18.54 per cent compared to conventional methods, highlighting the potential of Al traps to enhance cotton productivity while reducing chemical dependency.CICR deployed its own Al-based smart pheromone trap technology to overcome the limitations of conventional traps. The smart trap system comprises a single-board computer, a camera module, a weather sensor and a GSM transmitter, all powered by a solar panel with a rechargeable battery. According to Prasanta Kumar Dash, Assistant Director General of ICAR, a control unit triggers the camera module fixed on the ground at hourly intervals to capture photographs of trapped pests.Early Warning SystemThe system optimizes and transmits the combined data (trapping pictures and related weather parameters) to a remote server via a 4G GSM/Wi-Fi module. An Al-powered machine learning algorithm (YOLO) then processes the images, counts the trapped pests, and delivers the analyzed data along with relevant weather information to end users via a mobile or PC application.By correlating the real-time trappings with weather data, pest dynamics over a wide area can be better understood. This helps in the development of reliable pest early warning systems and improved pest management practices in cotton cultivation, according to the evaluation report of the pilot project. The scientists emphasized that real-time monitoring is essential for devising timely and cost-effective management strategies to control PBW. They said timely pest alerts and advisories to farmers helped in keeping the losses below the economic threshold level (ETL)read more :-Weekly Summary Report : Cotton Bales Sold by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)

Weekly Cotton Bale Sales Summary – CCICotton Corporation of India (CCI) conducted online bidding for cotton bales throughout the week, with the daily sales summary being as follows:15 April 2025: A total of 97,500 bales were sold, including 51,800 bales in the Mills session and 45,700 bales in the Traders session.16 April 2025: CCI recorded sales of 63,900 bales, including 37,900 bales in the Mills session and 26,000 bales in the Traders session.17 April 2025: The week ended with sales of 37,200 bales, of which 23,400 bales were sold from the Mills session and 13,800 bales in the Traders session.Weekly Total: During the week, CCI sold 1,98,600 (approx.) cotton bales, successfully using its online bidding platform to streamline transactions and support trading.read more :- Study reveals region-specific benefits of organic cotton farming in India

Organic Cotton Farming Yields Regional Benefits in IndiaA new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) released by the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) provides region-specific evidence of the environmental advantages of organic cotton cultivation compared to conventional methods in India. The study, conducted by climate solutions provider South Pole and commissioned by the OCA, analysed verified data from over 18,000 Indian farmers across three growing seasons (2020-2023) and various irrigation systems, including rain-fed, intensive irrigation, and mixed approaches.The research, which examined cotton farming practices across 15 distinct supply regions in five Indian states – Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, and Telangana – aimed to develop detailed environmental profiles for raw organic cotton produced by farmers participating in OCA’s agricultural program. It specifically investigated how different irrigation methods and farming techniques impact the environment.The OCA’s LCA was designed to establish a reliable baseline for evaluating environmental impact from farm to ginning, support credible environmental claims made by brands, and assist with Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting for partner companies. Furthermore, the OCA aimed to refine its data collection and management processes for future assessments and ongoing monitoring.Key outcomes of the OCA’s India organic cotton study indicate that organic cotton farming has a smaller environmental footprint across several crucial impact categories, including climate change potential, water consumption, acidification, and eutrophication. Notably, the study revealed that direct field emissions are significant contributors to climate change effects, acidification, and eutrophication, accounting for a substantial portion (averaging 88 per cent, and ranging from 45 per cent to 99 per cent across most categories) of the impact within the irrigated control group. The research also highlighted the significant role of fertiliser use, both synthetic and natural, in determining the environmental impact of cotton production. Water use impacts were found to vary considerably based on irrigation practices, with rain-fed systems demonstrating the lowest environmental impact.The research underscores the necessity of improving the quality and consistency of LCA data for sustainability initiatives to be effective and measurable. This includes refining secondary data related to irrigation through collaborations with local organizations to enhance water footprint assessments. The study also recommends regular updates to LCA studies to track progress and evaluate the impact of interventions over time.Looking ahead, OCA plans to conduct further regional LCAs to gain a more precise understanding of organic cotton’s contribution to addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and social issues. Brands partnering with OCA will have access to customised LCA insight dashboards, enabling them to monitor progress, inform sourcing decisions, and drive meaningful impact. read more :- Brazil cotton prices rise on tight supplies & trade uncertainty

Brazil Cotton Prices Climb Amid Supply Crunch & Trade WoesTrade tensions between the US and China disrupted global market sentiment in early April, slowing spot market activity amid volatile futures. In Brazil, a mismatch in product quality and pricing continued to limit negotiations during the offseason. Most 2023-24 inventories have already been sold, with remaining sellers holding firm on prices. Buyers with urgent or high-quality requirements are paying a premium, as per the Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA).As a result, domestic cotton prices climbed to BRL 4.2999 (~$0.73) per pound on April 15, 2025, up 1.97 per cent from March 31, reaching their highest nominal level since early March.According to National Supply Company’s (CONAB) April 10 report, Brazil's 2024-25 cotton crop is expected to hit a record 3.89 million tonnes—up 5.1 per cent year-on-year—driven by a 6.9 per cent rise in planted area and a 1.7 per cent increase in yield.Globally, the USDA projects cotton production at 26.32 million tonnes for 2024-25, a 7 per cent rise from the previous year, with consumption seen at 25.26 million tonnes, leaving supply 4.2 per cent above demand.read more :-Rupee Rises 11 Paise, Closes at 85.37 Against Dollar

Indian Rupee higher 11 Paisa, Ends at 85.37 per DollarThe Indian rupee on thursday higher 11 paise to close at 85.37 per dollar, while it opened at 85.48 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 1,508.91 points or 1.96 percent at 78,553.20, and the Nifty was up 414.45 points or 1.77 percent at 23,851.65. About 2340 shares advanced, 1468 shares declined, and 149 shares unchanged.read more :-India’s cotton panel recommends removing 11% import duty

India Panel Urges Removal of 11% Cotton Import DutyThe Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption (COCPC), headed by the Union Textile Commissioner, has recommended to the Centre to remove the 11 per cent import duty on cotton.The COCPC, which comprises all stakeholders in the cotton industry, made the recommendation at its meeting held in Mumbai on Wednesday, said K Venkatachalam, Chief Advisor, Tamilnadu Spinning Mills Association (TASMA). He was part of the stakeholders meeting. “If the Centre is unable to remove the 11 per cent duty fully, then the COCPC recommended that it could freeze the customs duty for the next months,” he told .Textile mills importing cotton have to be alert on the developing scenario, though any change in the import duty structure will have to be notified by the Ministry of Finance, he said. Positive signal to USVenkatachalam said the move will send a positive signal to the Trump administration in the US that India has made the import duty on cotton zero. “This will likely reflect positive on Indian textile exports to the US,” he said. This development follows the estimate of Indian cotton production at lower than 300 lakh bales (170 kg) by COCPC and industry bodies such as the Cotton Association of India (CAI). According to the CAI’s latest estimate, cotton output this season, to September, will likely be 291.30 lakh bales. The association has also projected imports to more than double to 33 lakh bales from 15.20 lakh bales last season. The cotton supply this year, including 25 lakh bales imported as of March 31, is estimated at 306.83 lakh bales, compared to the estimated consumption of 315 lakh bales. The Indian textile sector has begun importing cotton over the past few years, as the natural fibre’s production has stagnated due to its lower yield. India’s cotton production increased to nearly 400 lakh bales in the early 2010s after the introduction of genetically-modified Bt cotton. But, no new Bt variety has been introduced since 2006, and pest attacks such as pink bollworm and white fly, besides climate change, have begun to impact the productivity.read more :-US cotton exports to India rise on lower prices, tariff uncertainties