The notification regarding guideline for Bt cotton technology has been put in the public domain for the period of 90 days, in the same form for comments and suggestions of all stakeholders.
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh is trying to ensure uniformity in pricing of Bt cotton seeds across the country. At the behest of Singh the central government has recently intervened and issued a Cotton Seed Price (Control) Order, 2015, to fix a uniform price of Bt cotton seed across the states.
Based on the representations his Ministry has made a reference to the Competition Commission of India for investigation of dominance of MMBL and abuse of monopoly in Bt cotton technology so as to ensure competition in the market.
A nine-member committee was set up to recommend the maximum sale price of Bt cotton seeds after taking into consideration several parameters for the financial year 2016-17 for the whole of India.
The Minister said that both the public and private sectors have a role in the supply of quality seeds, including Bt cotton, to farmers. The licensing of Bt cotton seeds by Mahyco Monsanto to 50 companies is an example of the private sector’s role in the production and supply of such seeds.
Singh said that “In order to safeguard the interests of the farming community, this department issued the Cotton Seed Price (Control) Order, 2015, under section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to regulate Bt cotton seed prices.
Some state governments had also passed legislations to ensure supply of Bt cotton seeds to farmers.