AMN /
In a move that will benefit hundreds of cotton farmers across the country, the Centre Government has for the first time fixed a uniform price for Bt cotton seed. In a notification issued yesterday, the Union Agriculture Ministry has fixed the maximum sale price of each Bt cotton seed packet at 800 rupees for bollgard (BG)-II version of hybrid seed.
It includes a 49 rupees as royalty fee to technology providers as well. Farmers had bought Bt cotton seeds in the price range of 830 to 1,000 rupees per packet of 450 grams across the country in last sowing season. The price has now been reduced by over 70 per cent for the next season starting in April 2016.
For the BG-I version , the maximum sale price has been fixed at 635 rupees per packet with no trait value, the notification added. Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh yesterday said, his Ministry has made a reference to the Competition Commission of India for investigation of abuse of monopoly in Bt cotton technology by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech India Ltd so as to ensure competition in the market.