BT COTTON CAUGHT
IN CROSSFIRE
cover story
Govt slashes prices, MNCs approach judiciary
The genetically modified avatar of cotton seeds has been through many ups
and downs since its official adoption more than a decade ago. Yet there
seems to be no ending to this controversial journey as now the fresh price war
has escalated to the point of no return
BY RAHUL KOUL
D
espite statements from the
global seeds giant, Monsanto
that it will re-evaluate its India
business if such a move is taken,
the union government decided to reduce the
prices of genetically modified cotton seeds
besides rolling down its royalty fees heavily.
As per the notification issued by the Ministry
of Agriculture on March 9, 2016, the maximum
sale price of Bollgard II cotton seeds were
reduced to Rs 800 (per 450gm packet) from Rs
830-1,000 earlier. It also mentioned the
reduction of the royalty or trait fees by over
70%, from Rs 163 per packet to Rs 43 (which
excluded taxes).
Earlier a nine-member committee constituted
on January 27, 2016 by the central government
on cotton seed prices recommended reduction
in royalty fees payable to seed technology
companies, such as Monsanto, and an overall
lowering of seed prices.
The union agriculture and farmer’s welfare
minister, Mr Radha Mohan Singh in his
comments stated, “As there was no uniformity
in pricing of Bt cotton seeds across the
country, the central government has recently
intervened and issued a Cotton Seed Price
10
BioVoiceNews | May 2016