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On Thursday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.55 against the US dollar and closed at 95.38, higher by 17 paise by the end of the trading session.At close, the Sensex was up 238.22 points or 0.31 percent at 76,741.82, and the Nifty was up 80.75 points or 0.34 percent at 23,962.80. About 2793 shares advanced, 1263 shares declined, and 167 shares unchanged.read more :- Gujarat Cotton Sowing Reaches 9.32 Lakh Hectares; Saurashtra Tops Kharif 2026

Cotton Sowing in Gujarat Crosses 9.32 Lakh Hectares; Saurashtra Leads; Oilseed Acreage at 6.66 Lakh HectaresAhmedabad, July 6. Cotton sowing is progressing rapidly in Gujarat during the Kharif 2026 season. So far, cotton has been sown across 9,31,926 hectares in the state, representing 39.1 percent of the normal area. However, during the same period last year, the acreage stood at 1,710,610 hectares.Region-wise data indicates that Saurashtra leads in cotton sowing, with 6,27,100 hectares covered. This is followed by Kutch (48,200 hectares), North Gujarat (1,17,100 hectares), Central Gujarat (1,09,800 hectares), and South Gujarat (29,800 hectares).In terms of districts, Surendranagar ranks first with 1,92,000 hectares. Other major cotton-producing districts include Botad (1,11,800 hectares), Morbi (1,06,400 hectares), Bhavnagar (89,700 hectares), and Amreli (69,900 hectares).Meanwhile, total sowing of oilseed crops in the state has reached 6,66,029 hectares, accounting for 22.72 percent of the normal area. This includes groundnut sowing across 6,28,888 hectares (32.83%), soybean across 35,200 hectares (12.51%), sesame across 901 hectares (1.82%), and castor across 1,041 hectares (0.15%). Total Kharif sowing in the state has reached 1,854,564 hectares as of July 6, 2026, representing 21.74 percent of the normal area. With the favorable progress of the monsoon, sowing of cotton and oilseed crops is expected to gain further momentum in the coming days.READ MORE :- Rupee Opens Unchanged at 95.55 Against US Dollar.

Rupee opened steady at 95.55/$.The Indian rupee opened at 95.55 per dollar on Thursday, while it closed at 95.55 on Wednesday.The BSE Sensex is trading higher  rebounding 467 points (0.61%) to 76,971.34, while the Nifty climbed to 24,018.40. This follows a steep crash on July 8, where the Sensex plunged 1,677 points (2.15%) to 76,503.60 due to renewed US-Iran tensions and rising crude prices.READ MORE :- Rainfall Deficit Threatens Nandurbar Cotton

Rainfall Deficit Threatens Cotton Crop in Nandurbar; Farmers ConcernedA weak start to the monsoon in Nandurbar district this year has heightened concerns among cotton-growing farmers. Despite the commencement of the Kharif season, the lack of adequate rainfall has led to a severe moisture deficit in the fields. This is directly impacting the cotton crop; plant growth has stalled in many areas, while the crop has begun to wither in others. Farmers fear that without substantial rainfall soon, there could be a drastic drop in production this year.Farmers have invested thousands of rupees in seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural activities for cotton sowing. However, the absence of expected rainfall has put this investment at risk. The continuously depleting soil moisture is hindering plant development, raising the likelihood of a negative impact on both crop quality and yield.The lack of rain is forcing farmers to make extra efforts to save their crops. They are incurring additional expenses on weeding, pest control, and other farm management tasks, which has further compounded their financial woes. Meanwhile, the low moisture levels are increasing the risk of pest infestations and diseases in the cotton crop, deepening fears of potential losses.Cotton is cultivated on a large scale in Nandurbar district during the Kharif season, and the livelihoods of thousands of families depend on this crop. Farmers who have already sown their crops are making every possible effort to save them, while those who have not yet sown are waiting for rain before deciding on their next course of action.Currently, the hopes of the district's farmers rest on the prospect of good rainfall in the coming days. Timely and adequate rain could provide relief to the crop and improve yield prospects. However, any further delay in rainfall could result in significant financial losses for the farmers. Thus, the future of this year's cotton crop appears to hinge entirely on the monsoon's performance.read more :- The rupee closed 39 paise lower against the US dollar at 95.55.

On Wednesday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.16 against the US dollar and closed at 95.55, marking a lower of 39 paise by the end of the trading session.At close, the Sensex was down 1,677.12 points or 2.15 percent at 76,503.60, and the Nifty was down 516.65 points or 2.12 percent at 23,882.05. About 1023 shares advanced, 3070 shares declined, and 159 shares unchanged.read more :- Vice President Reviews Progress of Cotton Productivity Mission ‘Kapas Kranti’

Vice President Apprised of Progress on ‘Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kranti)The Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, was briefed today at the Vice President’s House by the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with senior officials from the Ministries of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Textiles, regarding the ‘Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kranti)’. (SIS)The presentation highlighted three key dimensions of the mission: increasing cotton productivity through research, modern technology, and advanced farming practices; ensuring the consistent availability of high-quality cotton through initiatives such as ‘Kasturi Cotton’ certification and the ‘Kisan Cotton App’; and promoting new-age natural fibers to foster innovation and sustainability in the textile sector.Appreciating the mission's overall strategy to strengthen India's cotton ecosystem, the Vice President emphasized the need for a swift and effective approval mechanism to accelerate innovation and ensure the timely adoption of new technologies. Identifying the increase in cotton yield per acre as a priority for the mission, he urged the setting of clear, measurable, and time-bound targets for productivity improvement so that India could bridge the existing gap with leading cotton-producing nations. (SIS)The Vice President stated that, given the rising domestic and global demand for quality cotton, India must further strengthen its competitive edge. He also emphasized the need to raise public awareness about the mission, adopt market-oriented strategies, and widely publicize its successful initiatives through television documentaries and other effective media channels. (SIS)READ MORE :- Indian Rupee Opens 20 Paise Lower at 95.16 Against US Dollar

The rupee opened lower at 95.16 per dollar.On Wednesday, the Indian rupee opened 20 paise lower at 95.16 against the dollar, whereas it had closed at 94.96 on Tuesday.The Sensex was down 420.78 points or 0.54 percent at 77,759.94, and the Nifty was down 134.10 points or 0.55 percent at 24,264.60. About 848 shares advanced, 1415 shares declined, and 145 shares unchanged.READ MORE :- The rupee closed 37 paise higher against the US dollar at 94.96.

On Tuesday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.33 against the US dollar and closed at 94.96, marking a gain of 37 paise by the end of the trading session.In the stock market, the Sensex closed at 78,180.72, down 104.35 points or 0.13 percent, while the Nifty slipped 31.65 points or 0.13 percent to close at 24,398.70. Market breadth showed gains in 1,492 stocks and declines in 2,554 stocks, while 155 stocks remained unchanged.read more :- Maharashtra: Rain Deficit Forces Cotton Farmers in Rajura to Re-sow Crops

Maharashtra: Cotton Crop Threatened by Lack of Rain in Rajura; Farmers Face Challenge of Re-sowingCotton crops in the Rajura taluka of Maharashtra's Chandrapur district have been adversely affected by a lack of timely and adequate rainfall. Farmers had sown cotton on a large scale following light showers at the onset of the Mrig Nakshatra; however, the subsequent cessation of rain caused seeds to dry up within the soil in many areas. Farmers now face the crisis of re-sowing, raising concerns right at the start of the Kharif season.Encouraged by sporadic rainfall over the initial two or three days, farmers had hoped for an early onset of the monsoon. Relying on this expectation, they sowed cotton seeds in the dry soil. However, the absence of rain over the past four to five days prevented the soil from retaining sufficient moisture, causing sprouts to perish in many locations before they could even emerge from the ground.The situation remains critical in several villages across Rajura taluka, including Govari, Sasti, Povni, Sakhri, Chincholi, Kadholi, Manauli, Babapur, Charli, Nirli, Ghidshi, Mathra, Goyegaon, and Antargaon. Farmers state that despite incurring significant expenses on expensive seeds, fertilizers, and land preparation, the lack of rain has dashed their hopes.The erratic weather pattern has further complicated farming plans. Farmers who had cultivated their land using loans or credit must now arrange additional funds for re-sowing, a situation likely to exacerbate their financial hardships.Taluka Agriculture Officer Vinayak Payghan has advised farmers against taking the risk of sowing based solely on sporadic rainfall. According to him, sowing should only be undertaken once there has been at least 100 mm of rainfall and the soil holds adequate moisture.Farmers explain that they had sown cotton anticipating good rainfall during the Mrig Nakshatra, but the absence of rain at this crucial juncture caused the sprouts to wither underground. This has resulted in severe crop damage, leaving many farmers with no choice but to re-sow.READ MORE :- Weekly Monsoon Tracker: Weak Rainfall Slows Cotton and Soybean Sowing

Tamil Nadu's Open-End Spinning Mills Grapple with Rising Raw Material PricesOpen-end spinning mills in Tamil Nadu are currently under pressure due to the rising cost of raw materials. The industry states that the modernization of mills has driven up the demand for cotton waste (specifically comber noil), keeping prices high and squeezing profit margins.The Open-End Spinning Mills Association and the Recycle Textile Federation have urged the central government to regulate the export of cotton waste. They note that while the price of cotton waste has dropped by ₹20 per kilogram recently, a further reduction of ₹10 per kilogram is needed to provide relief to industries that utilize yarn made from cotton waste.According to the industry, most open-end spinning mills in North India have already adopted modern technology, whereas approximately 40 percent of mills in Tamil Nadu still require modernization. While the adoption of new technology has nearly doubled yarn production, it has also led to a sharp rise in the demand for cotton waste.During May, the price of cotton waste (comber noil) reached ₹140 per kilogram. G. Arulmozhi, President of the Open-End Spinning Mills Association, stated that if mills raise yarn prices to offset these rising costs, it would place an additional financial burden on home textile units and powerloom weavers in Karur, as they are not in a position to absorb higher prices.Cotton waste is a by-product of textile mills, typically priced at around 65 percent of the cost of raw cotton. However, prices have seen an unusual surge due to rising exports of comber noil and a spike in domestic demand.READ MORE :- Weekly Monsoon Tracker: Weak Rainfall Slows Cotton and Soybean Sowing

Weekly Monsoon Tracker: Cotton and Soybean Sowing Hit by Weak RainfallThe slow progress of the monsoon and below-normal rainfall across several parts of the country are impacting the sowing of key Kharif crops, particularly cotton and soybean. According to Ministry of Agriculture data, the acreage for both crops as of July 5 was significantly lower compared to the previous year, raising concerns among both farmers and the market.Cotton sowing stood at 63.18 lakh hectares as of July 5, approximately 23 percent lower than the 82 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year. This figure is also below the normal acreage of 76.12 lakh hectares. A weak start to the monsoon and uneven rainfall distribution in major cotton-producing states have hampered the pace of sowing. Farmers in many regions have delayed sowing while waiting for adequate soil moisture, and there are also apprehensions regarding the need for re-sowing in some areas.The situation for soybean also remains under pressure. Sluggish soybean sowing has been a primary factor in the overall decline in oilseed acreage. A lack of soil moisture—caused by weak rainfall in June across central India's major soybean-producing regions—prevented sowing operations from gaining normal momentum. Industry and trade circles are now closely watching rainfall patterns for the second week of July, as this period is considered crucial for soybean sowing.The impact of the rainfall deficit extends beyond the fields. As of July 5, the country had received 24 percent less rainfall than normal, and according to the Central Water Commission, water storage levels in major reservoirs remain below normal. This has heightened anxiety among farmers in regions dependent on irrigation.However, the Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rainfall across several parts of the country between July 6 and July 12. If this forecast holds true, the pace of cotton and soybean sowing could accelerate, potentially making up for some of the shortfall experienced so far.READ MORE :- Rupee opened strong at 95.33/USD.