The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Bt.cotton II price pegged at Rs. 750

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Saturday, May 05, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Bt.cotton II price pegged at Rs. 750

Special Correspondent

The companies were forced to slash the price of this variety from Rs. 1,800

HYDERABAD: Refusing to concede to the demand by seed companies for enhancing the rate of Bollgard Bt cotton - II, the Andhra Pradesh Government has made it clear that it would sell each packet (450 gms) at Rs. 750 only.

Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy at a press conference here on Friday said, last year the Government had successfully forced the seed companies to bring down the price of Bt cottonseed from Rs. 1,800 to Rs. 750 a packet.

The State Government had moved the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission against Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech Limited (MMBL) for collecting `exorbitant' royalty on Bt cotton.

The legal battle had forced the company to bring down the price to Rs. 750 a packet. The MMBL has once again approached the Government seeking a rise in price of the Bt cotton - II.

Bollgard I only protects the cotton plant from bollworm while the Bollgard II plant fights bollworm as well as heliothis.

The Minister reiterated that the Government will not allow seed companies to increase the price of the Bollgard II. "They have to sell the packets at Rs. 750 only," he said.

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