State offers Rs 100 rebate on Bt cotton seeds

Also offers 5-10% rebate on other seeds sold by GSSC.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a rebate of Rs 100 on each packet of Bt cotton seeds and 5-10 per cent rebate on seeds of some other kharif crops.

The announcement of rebate made by Modi at the inauguration of annual Krishi Mahotsav at Akodara in North Gujarat would be on standard seeds sold by the Gujarat State Seeds Corporation (GSSC).

The Gujarat CM directed the authorities that farmers get the pure seeds in time and easily, while he assured that each farmer would get maximum two packets of the seed at reduced prices. At the same time, the 10 per cent rebate is on standard hybrid castor seed, and five per cent on tur, paddy, soyabean, til, urad and moong seeds.

Earlier, the state government allowed a raise in prices of genetically modified (Bt), Bollgard-I and Bollgard-II. On an average, prices were raised by 25 per cent for the ensuing kharif season. For instance, prices increased from Rs 650 per packet (each of 450 gms) to Rs 830 per packet for BG-I, while prices of BG-II were raised from Rs 750 per packet to Rs 930 per packet.

The price hike may result an increase of Rs 200 a kg in the production cost to farmers as compared to 2008.

The move came at a time when cotton prices had witnessed a steep rise of around 118 per cent during 2007-11, whereas there was no rise in the seed prices during these years.

Gujarat produces around 6.5-7 million packets of Bt cotton seeds every year, while the requirement in the state for the ensuing kharif season is estimated to be at around 6.5 million packets.