The National Seed Association of India has requested the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh to revise the prices of Bt cotton seed as they were too low for the seed companies to maintain profitability of their companies.
The prices of 450-gram packet of single gene and double gene Bt cotton seeds were reduced to Rs 650 and Rs 750 per packet, respectively, in 2008 from Rs 750 and Rs 950 per packet, respectively, in 2006.
They said that at the prevailing prices, they were incurring a loss of Rs 50-100 per packet and if the prices were not revised, they would not be in a position to take up production of Bt cotton seeds for next year, which could affect supply.
Since Andhra Pradesh accounts for 70 percent of the seed production in the country, the pricing policies adopted by the state are followed by other states in the country, like Gujarat and Maharashtra, to whom too they would represent to up the prices.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India