Bt cotton seed price unchanged for 2017-18

The 'trait value' has also been retained at Rs 49, which includes all taxes

The Centre has kept the prices of genetically modified (Bt) cotton seeds for 2017-18 unchanged at Rs 800 per 450g packet. The ‘trait value’ (fee charged by seed research companies from license holders) has also been retained at Rs 49, which includes all taxes.

The Centre sets both rates. Bt cotton seed prices were first lowered last year by a panel constituted by the Centre under the Cotton Seeds Price Control Order in December 2015. The panel had brought down the price to Rs 800 a packet from Rs 830-1,030 earlier; trait value was lowered about 70 per cent, from Rs