Cotton seeds may get essential commodity status
The Centre is planning to declare cotton seed as an essential commodity to contain the prices of Bt cotton seeds.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: The Centre is planning to declare cotton seed as an essential commodity to contain the prices of Bt cotton seeds.
“Proposal to re-notify cotton seeds as essential commodity under Essential Commodities (amendment) Act, 2006, is under consideration of the government,” food and agriculture minister sharad pawar informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Replying to a question on availability of fake Bt cotton seeds in the country, Mr Pawar said about 15,979 packets of such seeds were seized and 80 cases were registered in different states for infringement of the law. However, he said “no significant impact on production of cotton” has been reported by states due to fake cotton seeds.
The minister also informed that cases of sale of fake Bt cotton seeds have been reported in all major producing states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab.
In reply to a question on the extent to which farmers’ interests are safeguarded when the minimum support price (MSP) of cotton is fixed, Mr Pawar said while recommending the MSP, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) takes into account the relevant factors including the cost of production of cotton.
The government fixes the MSP for two basic varieties of cotton— medium staple (J-34/F-414/H-777) and long staple (H-4) — on the basis of recommendation of CACP. However, the textile commissioner fixes the MSP for 26 other varieties, he added.
“Proposal to re-notify cotton seeds as essential commodity under Essential Commodities (amendment) Act, 2006, is under consideration of the government,” food and agriculture minister sharad pawar informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Replying to a question on availability of fake Bt cotton seeds in the country, Mr Pawar said about 15,979 packets of such seeds were seized and 80 cases were registered in different states for infringement of the law. However, he said “no significant impact on production of cotton” has been reported by states due to fake cotton seeds.
The minister also informed that cases of sale of fake Bt cotton seeds have been reported in all major producing states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab.
In reply to a question on the extent to which farmers’ interests are safeguarded when the minimum support price (MSP) of cotton is fixed, Mr Pawar said while recommending the MSP, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) takes into account the relevant factors including the cost of production of cotton.
The government fixes the MSP for two basic varieties of cotton— medium staple (J-34/F-414/H-777) and long staple (H-4) — on the basis of recommendation of CACP. However, the textile commissioner fixes the MSP for 26 other varieties, he added.
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