New Delhi : The Centre has decided to control prices of cotton seeds including the genetically modified versions by fixing a uniform maximum sale price from March 2016, a move that would deal a major blow to global hybrid seed company Monsanto.
It has also decided to fix and regulate the seed value and licensee fee including royalty or trait value, according to a notification issued by the Agriculture Ministry. Currently, Bt cotton seed is sold at different rates across the country. In Punjab and Haryana, it is priced at Rs 1,000 per packet of 450 grams, while it is Rs 830 in Maharasthra and Rs 930 in six states including Andhra Pradesh.
In the notification dated December 7, the Agriculture Ministry said the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order has been issued for “uniform regulation” of sale price of cotton seeds with existing and future genetically modified technologies. The aim is to ensure cotton seeds are available to farmers at “fair, reasonable and affordable prices” and there is uniform rates for cotton seeds across the country, it said.
