The Bt cotton seed companies and distributors will not be allowed to charge more than the price limit fixed by the government. The ordinance also provides for punitive action if the provisions are violated.
The state government has urged farmers not to pay more for Bt seeds than the prices fixed in the ordinance. "Punitive actions would be taken against all those companies and distributors who are found to be charging more prices than specified by the ordinance," Gujarat government spokesperson Jay Narayan Vyas said in Gandhinagar.
The lukewarm response to Gujarat government's request to traders, distributors and Bt cotton seeds companies to voluntarily reduce the prices of Bt cotton seeds prompted the government to take the stern action.
The decision to put ceiling on Bt seeds prices was taken after receiving a series of complaints regarding exhorbitant prices charged by companies and distributors.