MUMBAI: India’s state of Maharashtra, the country’s second-biggest cotton producing state, has cut its forecast for output of the fibre by 37 percent from its September outlook as a pest infestation has reduced yields, a senior government official told Reuters. Maharashtra’s output is now forecast to drop to 6 million bales of 170 kg each for the 2017/18 marketing year that started on Oct. 1, the source said. That is down from 10.7 million bales produced in the 2016/17 marketing year.The forecast is down because of an infestation of the pink bollworm that has cut yields.
DRI busts smuggling rackets, seizes 31kg gold
VIJAYAWADA: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 31.5 kg gold worth 13.3 crore in the last three days. DRI...