Govt fixes Bt cotton seed price at Rs 750 per packet

Ignoring the legal notice sent by Monsanto, the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday instructed the seed companies in the state not to sell Bt cotton seed beyond Rs 750 per packet of 570 gm, which includes 120 gm of refugee seed.

The instructions issued by Poonam Malakondaiah, commissioner of agriculture, also clarified that the retail upper price limit fixed by the government includes trait value to be paid to Monsanto.

The commissioner also warned that if Bt cotton seed companies fail to make the seed available to farmers, appropriate action would be initiated under the provisions of Essential Commodities Act 1955 apart from imposing other penalties liable under the provisions of Seeds(Control) Order, 1983.

While the Nuziveedu Seeds Limited, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Limited, Rasi Seeds Private Limited and ProAgro Seed Company Private Limited have already been marketing Bt cotton seed in the state for the last four years, another nine companies are likely to be granted permission for marketing Bt cotton seed in the state by Genetic Engineering Approval Committee(GEAC), according to the commissioner.

While indirectly referring to the one-month time given to Mahyco Monsanto Biotech(India) Limited(MMBL), which expires on June 10, and also justifying the government's move, the commissioner held that the MRTP Commission had not given any time limit to Rasi Seeds, Nuziveedu Seeds, ProAgro Seeds and Mahyco Seeds, who were also made respondents in the case, to determine the new price of Bt cotton seed.