State Govt & Monsanto to talk on Bt cotton seed prices
31 Jan '06
3 min read
Monsanto, also feels that their pricing is just and fair. “Our products give value to the farmers and they seize to spend the money spent on pesticides. We would not like to comment on the market speculation on higher royalty charged by us in India when compared to the US.
“Unfortunately, over the last four years, the illegal distribution of cotton seeds incorporating Bt technology in India has also steadily increased."
On average, in '04 and '05, the estimated sales of Bt cotton which has been illegally obtained and marketed has reportedly been equivalent or even eclipsed the sales of approved bollgard cotton.
"We have been delivering the following message to the Indian government and other interested stakeholders in an attempt to demonstrate that the problem is one that affects India generally and not just Monsanto. Due to this public and private sector developers of biotechnology products for India may lose confidence in the market, and delay or even decline to introduce new products,” the company said in a statement.
So far, the Gujarat government is following the Andhra government's decision on this issue. But if required, it may also file a suit against Monsanto very soon.
Monsanto, claims that the research conducted by them on around 3,000 farmers in six states revealed that it reduced the insecticides by 60 percent. The farmers also earned additional revenue of Rs 5,000 per acre.
marketing@alchempro.com
