(a) whether BT. Cotton seeds inferior quality are sold at an exorbitant rates by various seed
companies;
(b) if so, the reaction therefor;
(c) the measures being taken by the Government to compensate the farmers who suffered
losses because of low quality seeds; and
(d) the details of the policies formulated by the Government to provide the remunerative
prices of the cotton to the farmers?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a)to(c): There have been reports of production and supply of spurious and poor quality of
Bt. Cotton seeds particularly in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka causing
losses to the farmers. The concerned State Governments have taken necessary regulatory
measures to check sale of illegal, unlabelled and spurious Bt. Cotton seeds. As per the
information received from the Government of Maharashtra 24 police cases were filed and 11636
packets of illegal Bt. cotton seeds amounting Rs.186.18 lakh were seized. In case of
compensation to the farmers on account of losses due to inferior quality of Bt. Cotton seeds the
State Governments take up the matter for redressal with the concerned seed company.
(d): The Government has been announcing Minimum Supporting Price (MSP) for major
agriculture commodities including Cotton in each Season, backed by procurement by Cotton
Corporation of India (CCI) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India
Ltd. (NAFED). The designated Central nodal agencies are required to intervene in the market
for undertaking price support operations in case the prices fall below the MSP level fixed by the
Government.