The Karnataka Transgenic and Genetically Modified Cotton Seeds (Fixation of Sale Price and Payment of Compensation) Bill, 2015, passed last weekend, not only allows fixing the sales price of transgenic and Bt cotton seeds, but also makes a provision to compensate farmers in case of failure of genetically-modified or transgenic cotton crops.

According to the Bill, in case of crop failure, the responsibility to compensate farmers suitably would be on transgenic and Bt cotton seed producers.

In 2013 kharif season, Bt cotton crop failed on more than 60,000 hectares in Ballari, Belagavi, Chitradurga, Davangere and other districts, state minister of agriculture Krishna Gowda said while tabling the bill in the Assembly. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India