The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : MMBL agrees to fix Bt cottonseed price

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 04, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

MMBL agrees to fix Bt cottonseed price

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Seed companies and Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech India Ltd (MMBL), the licence-holder for Bt technology, have agreed to maintain the prices of hybrid cottonseeds of Bollgard-II technology below Rs 1,000 for a 450-gm pack in kharif-2007, making it affordable to farmers.

Addressing a press conference, representative of the seed companies Mandava Prabhakara Rao, who is also managing director of Nuzvidu Seeds Pvt. Ltd, said here on Saturday that the Bt cotton seed prices were fixed at Rs 1,400 by the MMBL with the trait value (royalty) of Rs 900 per pack, thus leaving a share of Rs 523 per pack for seed companies.

Prices slashed

However, with the State Government referring the matter to the Monopoly Restricted Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC), the seed prices had been slashed to Rs 750 per pack. Following this, the MMBL, after discussing with seed companies, brought down the trait value of seed companies to Rs 150 in kharif-2006. Accordingly, the MMBL and seed companies decided to amend the relevant clauses of the agreement to avoid any issue vis-à-vis the MRTP Act.

The MMBL and seed companies would file the facts before the MRTPC seeking suitable orders.

Mr. Rao said that use of Bt cottonseed enhanced the production of cotton to 270 bales, making India the second largest cotton producer in the world.

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Andhra Pradesh