Recent News

Pearl Millet Emerges as Farmers' New Preference Over Cotton in South HaryanaThe agricultural landscape in South Haryana is undergoing rapid change. Farmers in districts like Mahendragarh, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, and Charkhi Dadri—once known for cotton production—are now shifting towards large-scale cultivation of pearl millet (*bajra*). The primary reasons for this shift are the rising risks associated with cotton farming, pest infestations, and weather uncertainties.According to government data, the area under cotton cultivation in Haryana has hit a seven-year low. The total area dedicated to cotton in the state has shrunk by approximately 70 percent, dropping to 2.82 lakh hectares. Agricultural experts believe that persistent attacks by the pink bollworm have most severely impacted cotton growers. This pest is now challenging the pest-resistance capabilities of Bt-cotton, causing farmers to suffer repeated crop losses.Factors such as the use of expensive pesticides, high nutrient requirements, and weather-related challenges—like unseasonal rainfall—are driving up cultivation costs. Consequently, for many farmers, cotton farming has turned into a loss-making venture rather than a profitable one.In contrast, pearl millet is a low-cost crop that requires less water. It is drought-tolerant and yields well even in sandy soils and high-temperature conditions. This is why farmers in the water-scarce regions of South Haryana view it as a safer alternative. While farmers with adequate irrigation facilities are shifting towards paddy cultivation, the cultivation of pearl millet and cluster beans (*guar*) is rapidly increasing in arid areas.According to experts from the Mahendragarh Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, pearl millet is benefiting from the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime, the *Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana* (Price Deficit Compensation Scheme), and government policies aimed at promoting coarse grains. The government is actively encouraging its cultivation by providing incentives for improved seeds, micro-irrigation techniques, and pearl millet processing units. For these very reasons, the area under cotton cultivation in southern Haryana is steadily declining, while pearl millet is emerging as a more sustainable, profitable, and reliable option for farmers.READ MORE :- Rupee Opens 30 Paise Lower Against US Dollar at 95.57

The rupee opened 30 paise lower at 95.57 against the USD.On Thursday, the Indian rupee opened 30 paise lower against the dollar at 95.57, whereas it had closed at 95.27 on Wednesday.READ MORE :- The rupee ended 27 paise higher at 95.27 against the dollar.

On Wednesday the Indian Rupee higher by 27 paise to close at 95.27 against the US dollar, after opening at 95.54 in morning trade.At close, the Sensex was up 64.42 points or 0.09 percent at 73,983.18, and the Nifty was down 27.15 points or 0.12 percent at 23,214.95. About 1383 shares advanced, 2653 shares declined, and 140 shares unchanged.read more :- Cotton Sowing Trails Last Year’s Pace

Cotton Sowing in India Lags Behind; Hopes Rise from Gujarat and Central IndiaThe start of the 2026-27 cotton season in India has been sluggish. Government data indicates that cotton sowing across the country is trailing behind last year's figures; however, positive signals from Gujarat and Central India have boosted industry optimism.Data available up to June 8 shows that cotton sowing has covered 7.51 lakh hectares, compared to 9.72 lakh hectares during the same period last year—a deficit of 2.21 lakh hectares. Despite early monsoon rains in key cotton-producing regions, the pace of sowing remains relatively slow.A decline in cotton acreage is anticipated in North India. Market experts estimate that the total area under cultivation in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan could drop by nearly 20 percent this year. Due to pest infestations and crop losses in recent years, many farmers are shifting away from cotton toward alternative crops like pearl millet (bajra), maize, and paddy. In Punjab, sowing covered only 70,000 hectares by early June, against a target of 1.25 lakh hectares. While sowing in Haryana has reached 3.07 lakh hectares, it is likely to remain below normal levels.In contrast, Gujarat has recorded a significant increase in cotton sowing. According to the state agriculture department, the area under cotton reached 93,499 hectares by June 8, a substantial rise from the 34,011 hectares recorded during the same period last year. Better prices and growing farmer interest are cited as the primary reasons for this trend.The Cotton Association of India (CAI) estimates that cotton acreage in Central India could rise by approximately 15 percent this season, potentially pushing the country's total cultivation area beyond 130 lakh hectares. An increase of ₹557 per quintal in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) may also encourage farmers to expand cotton cultivation. Now, the progress of sowing in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Central India over the coming weeks will determine how close the country gets to this estimate.read more :- MP Cuts Cotton Mandi Fee to 0.5%

MP Cabinet Decisions: Mandi fee on cotton reduced, increased on other produce; Cabinet takes several key decisionsBhopal, June 10, 2026. Several significant decisions concerning farmers, the agricultural sector, and development schemes were taken during the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday at the Mantralaya, chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Following the meeting, MSME Minister Chaitanya Kashyap briefed the media on the Council of Ministers' decisions.Providing relief to cotton growers and the ginning industry, the Cabinet decided to reduce the mandi fee (market fee) on cotton from 1 percent to 0.5 percent (50 paise per hundred rupees). Minister Kashyap explained that ginning factories in the Burhanpur, Khandwa, and Nimar regions were facing higher costs compared to those in Maharashtra. The reduction in the fee ensures that cotton produced in the state is processed at local ginning units, benefiting both the industry and the farmers.Conversely, the mandi fee on all general agricultural produce—excluding cotton—has been raised from 1 percent to 1.5 percent. The government estimates that this decision will generate an additional revenue of approximately ₹800 crore. The funds raised will be utilized for agricultural infrastructure, rural roads, cattle conservation, farmer welfare, and activities related to agricultural research and outreach.The Cabinet also approved ₹235 crore to ensure the continuity of various schemes under the Department of Science and Technology. This move will accelerate the department's ongoing projects and innovation programs.The meeting also addressed the availability and distribution system of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif season. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that there is an adequate supply of fertilizers in the state and assured that farmers would face no difficulties. To ensure this, nodal officers will be appointed to oversee the fertilizer distribution system in coordination with ministers, MLAs, and the administration.The Chief Minister instructed all public representatives and officials to prioritize the interests of farmers and ensure the prompt resolution of agriculture-related issues.read more :- Rupee Opens 19 Paise Lower at 95.54 Against Dollar

The rupee opened 19 paise lower at 95.54 against the USD.On Wednesday, the Indian rupee opened 19 paise lower against the dollar at 95.54, whereas it had closed at 95.35 on Tuesday.READ MORE :- Cotton MSP Up 36%, Urea Price Unchanged

Cotton MSP Climbs 36% While Urea Remains at ₹242: Are Farmers Finally Gaining?New Delhi: India's cotton farmers have benefited from a sharp increase in government support prices over the past five years, while the official price of urea has remained unchanged due to continued subsidy support. The development has renewed debate over whether rising Minimum Support Prices (MSP) are translating into higher farm incomes.According to official government figures, the MSP for Long Staple Cotton has increased from ₹6,380 per quintal in 2022-23 to ₹8,667 per quintal for the 2026-27 season. This represents an increase of ₹2,287 per quintal, or nearly 36 percent in five years. The latest hike of ₹557 per quintal for 2026-27 is among the highest absolute increases announced for major kharif crops.The MSP has risen steadily from ₹6,380 in 2022-23 to ₹7,020 in 2023-24, ₹7,521 in 2024-25, ₹8,110 in 2025-26 and ₹8,667 in 2026-27. For a farmer producing 20 quintals of cotton, the MSP-linked value of the crop has increased from ₹1.27 lakh to ₹1.73 lakh, resulting in a potential gain of more than ₹45,000.In contrast, the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of a 45-kg bag of neem-coated urea continues to remain at ₹242. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has clarified that there is currently no proposal to increase urea prices, with the government continuing subsidy support to keep the fertilizer affordable for farmers.The comparison highlights a significant trend: while the MSP of Long Staple Cotton has increased by nearly 36 percent since 2022-23, the official price of urea has remained unchanged. This has improved the relationship between cotton prices and one of the most widely used farm inputs.However, agricultural experts caution that MSP and fertilizer prices alone do not determine profitability. Farmers continue to face higher expenses on labour, pesticides, diesel, irrigation and machinery. Rising cultivation costs have absorbed part of the gains generated by higher MSPs, meaning actual income growth is lower than MSP growth.Even so, the government's twin strategy of increasing MSPs while maintaining fertilizer subsidies has provided stronger income protection for cotton growers. With cotton receiving one of the largest MSP increases among kharif crops and urea prices remaining stable, farmers are generally in a better position than they were five years ago.The challenge ahead, experts say, is ensuring that higher support prices are accompanied by better productivity, efficient procurement and lower cultivation costs so that a larger share of the benefits ultimately reaches farmers' pockets.read more :- Gujarat Cotton Sowing Surges by 78,000 Hectares in One Week

Cotton Sowing Gains Momentum in Gujarat; Increase of Over 78,000 Hectares in a WeekAhmedabad, June 08, 2026: Cotton sowing operations are progressing rapidly in Gujarat. According to weekly sowing data released by the Gujarat Department of Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare, and Cooperation, a significant increase in the cotton sowing area has been recorded in the state between June 1 and June 8.The data indicates that the total cotton sowing area in the state stood at 14,996 hectares on June 1 and rose to 93,449 hectares by June 8. Thus, an additional 78,453 hectares of sowing was recorded within a single week.The Saurashtra region continues to lead in cotton sowing. Here, the sown area increased from 12,500 hectares to 60,700 hectares. Surendranagar (18,900 hectares), Morbi (16,800 hectares), Amreli (7,500 hectares), Bhavnagar (6,500 hectares), and Botad (6,100 hectares) were the key districts for sowing.Farmers in Kutch district have also actively engaged in cotton sowing; the sown area in the district rose from 1,900 hectares to 10,300 hectares. Meanwhile, in North Gujarat, cotton sowing increased from 500 hectares to 14,800 hectares, with Mehsana, Patan, and Sabarkantha being the major contributors.In Central Gujarat, sowing increased from 100 hectares to 4,700 hectares, while in South Gujarat, cotton has been sown across 3,100 hectares. Bharuch and Tapi districts were prominent in this region.Experts believe that the progress of the monsoon and favorable weather conditions have prompted farmers to accelerate cotton sowing. The cotton sowing acreage in the state is likely to increase further if good rainfall occurs in the coming days. Source: Gujarat Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation DepartmentREAD MORE :- 60% Cotton Sowing Completed in Pachora Despite 43°C Heat

On Tuesday the Indian Rupee higher by 13 paise to close at 95.35 against the US dollar, after opening at 95.48 in morning trade.At close, the Sensex was up 394.50 points or 0.54 percent at 73,918.76, and the Nifty was up 119.10 points or 0.52 percent at 23,242.10. About 2694 shares advanced, 1343 shares declined, and 175 shares unchanged.

Cotton Sowing Completed in 60% of Pachora Area Amidst Scorching 43°C HeatPachora Taluka in Jalgaon district is renowned for cotton production; however, in recent years, farmers have grappled with issues such as 'red disease' (reddening of leaves), bollworm infestations, erratic rainfall, and low crop prices. This year too, the Meteorological Department and agricultural experts have predicted deficient rainfall due to the 'El Niño' effect. Despite this, farmers have taken the risk and commenced cotton sowing ahead of schedule.The Agriculture Department had advised farmers to sow cotton only after June 15, given the prevailing extreme heat and dry winds in the region. Currently, the ambient temperature hovers around 40°C, while soil temperatures exceeding 43°C are being recorded. Such conditions can adversely affect seed germination and increase the likelihood of issues like 'red disease' in the plants later on.Nevertheless, approximately 60 percent of farmers in Pachora Taluka have completed pre-season sowing. Believing that a delay could impact both yield and income, they have initiated farming operations based on available irrigation facilities. Farmers with access to well water began sowing seeds as early as May 20.Pachora Taluka has a total geographical area of 82,507 hectares, of which 58,202 hectares is cultivable land. Plans are in place to cultivate cotton across approximately 42,950 hectares this year.Meanwhile, due to recurring losses, farmers are also showing an increasing inclination towards maize cultivation. Last year, maize was sown across 9,822 hectares; this figure has risen to 11,220 hectares this year. Farmers are now pinning their hopes on the monsoon, as timely and adequate rainfall will determine the success of this high-risk farming venture.  READ MORE :- Kisan Sabha Flags Decline in Haryana Cotton Acreage, Criticises Govt Policies

Kisan Sabha Concerned Over Shrinking Cotton Acreage in Haryana; Questions Central Government PoliciesThe Haryana unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has expressed serious concern over the continuously declining acreage of cotton cultivation in the state. The organization states that this drop in cotton production could have a far-reaching impact on farmers' incomes, the rural economy, and the country's cotton sector. This issue was discussed in detail during a meeting of the AIKS state-level committee held in Rohtak on Monday.It was noted during the meeting that the area under cotton cultivation is steadily shrinking in Haryana's major cotton-producing districts—Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rewari, and Mahendragarh. Blaming the central government's policies for this trend, Kisan Sabha leaders stated that farmers are moving away from cotton cultivation because they are not receiving remunerative prices or adequate protection.The meeting was presided over by AIKS State President Master Balbir Singh. Criticizing the central government's decision to remove the 11 percent import duty on cotton, he argued that this would increase pressure from cheap imported cotton and cause losses to domestic producers. According to him, this decision could further weaken the position of cotton farmers who are already grappling with economic challenges.Highlighting the struggle of farmers in Bhiwani and Dadri, AIKS National Vice President Inderjit Singh noted that farmers had agitated for nearly ten months to secure insurance claims for Kharif crops damaged in 2023. Following sustained pressure, the government approved compensation of ₹375 crore for crop loss, yet several issues regarding its disbursement persist. He demanded that the approved compensation amount be transferred to the farmers' accounts without delay.Dissatisfaction was also expressed regarding the recently announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops. Farmer leaders argued that the hike in MSP is insufficient given the rising costs of cultivation and is unlikely to provide the expected relief to farmers.  READ MORE :- Trump Says Israel and Iran Seek Immediate Ceasefire, Peace Talks Underway