Cotton Crop

Govt pushes for HT-BT cotton to counter increasing demand to use glyphosate

The government is deliberating complex policy decisions regarding Herbicide-tolerant BT (HTBT) cotton and the use of herbicide 'glyphosate' as industry demands intensify, Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh said on Friday. The key issue revolves around permitting widespread glyphosate application in cotton farming, even as discussions are underway about officially introducing HTBT cotton varieties in the country. "On one hand, the industry is demanding the use of glyphosate in cotton. Then how to go for that?" Singh said addressing a brainstorming session on emerging challenges and management strategies for weed management in India. A dedicated committee is presently studying the implications of introducing herbicide-tolerant cotton varieties, at a time when glyphosate could potentially be used without such modifications, he said. Such policy matters remain unresolved and require thorough examination, the official emphasised. German life science company Bayer has applied for regula

Textile industry, ILO tie up for best labour standards in cotton farms

Around 6.5 million farmers grow cotton in India, which is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of the commodity

Paddy acreage rises 4.28%, cotton area lags in kharif season so far: Govt

Farmers have increased the area under paddy cultivation by 4.28 per cent to 33.18 million hectares, while cotton acreage declined in the ongoing 2024-25 kharif (summer-sown) crop season, according to government data released on Monday. The agriculture ministry reported that paddy sowing rose to 33.18 million hectares as of August 12, up from 31.82 million hectares in the same period last year. The increase in the paddy acreage comes amid forecasts of widespread rainfall across several regions by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As per the ministry's data, pulses acreage marginally increased to 11.74 million hectares in the ongoing kharif season from 11.01 million hectares in the year-ago period. Oilseeds area remained relatively flat at 18.37 million hectares compared to 18.22 million hectares last year. Cotton sowing declined to 11.05 million hectares as of August 12 from 12.12 million hectares in the same period the previous season. Among pulses, pigeon pea (arhar) sa

Cotton exports estimated to rise 27% to 2.8 mn bales in 2023-24 season: CAI

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) on Saturday estimated cotton exports to rise about 27 per cent to 28 lakh bales during 2023-24 crop year ending September. In 2022-23 crop season (October-September), cotton exports were at 22 lakh bales, CAI said. One bale is equal to 170 kilogram. "The demand for Indian cotton went up as the prices ruled 8-10 per cent lower than the international prices during December 2023 till March 2024. Our cotton is mainly exported to countries like Bangladesh, China and Vietnam," CAI President Atul Ganatra told PTI. Meanwhile, CAI pegged the cotton production for 2023-24 at 309.70 lakh bales, same as estimated in the previous month. The production is however expected to be lower than the previous season's 318.90 lakh bales. The total cotton supply till end of April 2024 is estimated at 315.86 lakh bales, which consists of pressing at 281.96 lakh bales, import of 5 lakh bales and the opening stock of 28.90 lakh bales. The estimated cotton consumption ti

CAI reduces cotton crop estimate further to 29,835,000 bales for 2022-23

Cotton Association of India (CAI) on Thursday continued to reduce its cotton crop estimate for the 2022-23 season, beginning from October 1, 2022, to 298.35 lakh bales as production is expected to decline in Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Odisha. The cotton crop is expected to reduce in Maharashtra and Telangana by 2 lakh bales each, in Tamil Nadu by 0.50 lakh bales and Odisha by 0.15 lakh bales, CAI said in a statement. Overall cotton production during the previous season is estimated at 307.05 lakh bales, the statement added. The total cotton supply for October 2022 to April 2023 is estimated at 263.06 lakh bales, which consists of the arrivals of 224.17 lakh bales, imports of 7 lakh bales and the opening stock at 31.89 lakh bales at the beginning of the season. Further, the CAI has estimated cotton consumption from October 2022 to April 2023 at 179 lakh bales while the export shipments up to April 30, are estimated at 12 lakh bales. Stock at the end of April 2023 is ...

CAI reduces cotton crop estimate to 30.3 mn bales for 2022-23 season

Cotton Association of India (CAI) on Wednesday further reduced its cotton crop estimate for the 2022-23 season, beginning October, by 10 lakh bales to 303 lakh bales as production is expected to decline in Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. The total cotton production in the last season was estimated at 307.05 lakh bales, CAI said in a statement. Cotton production in the current season, which began on October 1, 2022, is expected to decline in Punjab by 2 lakh bales, Maharashtra by 3 lakh bales, Telangana by 5 lakh bales, and in Andhra Pradesh by 0.50 lakh bales. The total cotton supply during October 2022 to March 2023 is estimated at 229.02 lakh bales, which includes 190.63 lakh bales of production, 6.50 lakh bales of imports and the opening stock estimated at 31.89 lakh bales at the beginning of the season. Further, the CAI has estimated cotton consumption from October 2022 to March 2023 at 149 lakh bales while the export shipments up to March 31, 2023 at 10.50 l

CAI lowers cotton crop estimate to 33.97 million bales for 2022-23

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) on Tuesday reduced the cotton crop estimate by 4.25 lakh bales to 339.75 lakh bales for the 2022-23 season, beginning from October 2022, as the production in Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is expected to decline. The total cotton production in the last season is estimated at 307.05 lakh bales, which is 32.7 lakh bales less than the current season estimates, the CAI said in a statement. The production of cotton crop for 2022-23 season for Haryana is estimated at 13.02 lakh bales, Andhra Pradesh at 15 lakh bales and Karnataka at 24 lakh bales, according to CAI data. The total cotton supply for October and November 2022 is estimated at 84.68 lakh bales, which consists of arrivals of 50.29 lakh bales, imports of 2.50 lakh bales and the opening stock estimated by the CAI at 31.89 lakh bales at the beginning of the season. Further, the CAI has estimated cotton consumption for October and November 2022 at 40 lakh bales while the export shipment

CPAI asks Sebi to provide uninterrupted trading in cotton futures contracts

Commodity Participant Association of India (CPAI) has urged capital markets regulator Sebi to facilitate uninterrupted hedging and trading in cotton futures contracts to market participants. This comes after Sebi in August suspended trading in all cotton futures contracts on commodity exchange MCX for one month to align the contract specifications with that of the market. Later, MCX informed that it is in process of modifying the cotton contract specification and no fresh position would be permitted in cotton January 2023 contracts and the subsequent expiry contracts till such time the revised contract specification gets finalised. In its letter to Sebi on Monday, CPAI said the current contract will expire on December 30, 2022, and will move into the delivery period five days before the expiry. The market participants and hedgers need to roll over the position into January 2023 onwards contract. The market participants are awaiting the notification for the modified contract ...

India cotton output seen rising 12% on bigger crop area, says trade body

India is likely to produce 34.4 million bales of cotton in the 2022/23 season that started on Oct. 1, up 12% from a year ago after farmers expanded the crop area, a trade body said on Tuesday

Pakistan's textile units shut down due to shortage of cotton after floods

The already fragile Pakistan economy, hit hard by the devastating floods, now faces the shutdown of textile factories as the cotton crop has been destroyed

Here's why factories making towels and bedsheets are shutting in Pakistan

As many as 100 smaller mills have suspended operations due to a shortage of good quality cotton, high fuel costs, and poor recovery of payments from buyers in flood-hit areas

Punjab govt to form committee to decide commission for cotton crop

The Punjab government has decided to form a nine-member committee to decide on the quantum of commission to be paid to 'arhtiyas' or commission agents for the cotton crop. Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that to resolve various issues of cotton farmers and the commission agents, a joint meeting was called here on Friday to redress the issues. Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Department Sarvjit Singh and Special Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Ravi Bhagat were among the officials present in the meeting, said an official statement. Dhaliwal said that with the consensus of all, it has been decided to form a 9-member committee to take a decision on the commission to be taken by agents on the cotton crop. The committee will have two representatives each of arhtiyas, cotton farmers, cotton factory owners and three government officials. During the meeting, the farmers also brought to the notice of the Agriculture Minister that there are illegal encroachments i

CAI lowers cotton crop estimate to 31.5 mn bales for current season

Cotton Association of India reduced its estimate for the cotton crop output for the current season beginning October 2021 to 315.32 lakh bales of 170 kg each

Haryana grants NOC to Mahyco for field trials of BT cotton variety

India has already allowed commercial use of BG-1 and BG-2 GM cotton while the approval for the BG-2 RRF has been pending at various stages. Field trials are likely for North Zone

CAI lowers cotton crop estimate to 33.51 million bales for 2021-22 season

The total production during crop year 2020-21, stood at 353 lakh bales, the CAI said in a statement

Cotton growers in Punjab are being 'exploited', says Sukhbir Singh Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to intervene and ensure cotton was procured at the minimum support price in Punjab

Farmers expand area under cotton by 24% on price increase, MSP hike

Demand to pick up now as textile mills resume operations after lockdown

Sena warns of stir if cotton procurement centres not started by Diwali

The party also said the government should give an assurance that the Cotton Crop of India (CCI) would buy cotton at Rs 5,500 per quintal

Bt cotton regains farmers' confidence, acreage under crop goes up to 93.6%

With this, the insect resistant transgenic crop has regained farmers' confidence which had been shaken three years ago

Pest attack, low yield to hit cotton crop

Following low arrivals, with falling yield due to pest attack, the cotton crop is set to fall significantly, say observers.Clarity is expected in a few weeks on the extent of damage the pink bollworm has done to the standing crop, especially in Maharashtra and Telangana. This had also happened last year in Gujarat and three years earlier in Haryana. Its gravity is higher this year; in disease-prone districts, farmers are selling damaged crop at 10-15 per cent less. Cotton Association of India (CAI) has projected the 2017-18 crop at 37.5 million bales (170 kg each). Atul Ganatra, president of CAI, said: "Based on reports from mandis (wholesale markets), we feel the yield will be lower by 10 per cent and, looking at lower arrivals at the beginning of the season, we will have to revise the crop estimate lower." Usually, from November onward, daily arrival historically averaged 200,000 bales a day; this time, they are 30 per cent lower. Lower yield, crop damage and farmers being tempted ..