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.
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 stern action.
Though the income of the farmers have increased following adoption of Bt cotton crop, the better returns have also lured many other farmers to opt for Bt cotton cultivation and Bt companies are taking undue advantage of increased demand, he added.
The ordinance pegs the prices of Bollgard-I and Bollgard-II at Rs. 650 and 750 per packet respecitively as against Rs. 750 and Rs. 950 per packet prices charged by marketing companies currently.
"The ordinance also provides for three years imprisonment and Rs. 5000 penalty. If any company or distributor sells the bt cotton seeds at prices more than what is fixed by the government,' Vyas said.
