Bt. Cotton is the only genetically modified crop released for commercial cultivation in India by Genetic Engineering Approval Committee of Ministry of Environment & Forest.
Bt. Cotton seed of 167 hybrids is produced and marked by 25 private seed companies at prices ranging from Rs. 750/- to Rs. 900/- per packet of 450 gms.
The prices have been fixed by the Seed Industry in consultation with States. Cultivation of Bt. Cotton has increased from 29,073 hectare in 2002 to 3.37 million hectare in 2006. Production of cotton has increased from 86.24 lakh bales of 170 kg. each in 2002 to 226.96 lakh bales in 2006.
Government is not implementing any programme to promote cultivation of Bt. Cotton. Minimum Support Prices is fixed by the Government on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices.
Details of area under conventional cotton and Bt. Cotton in Bt. cultivating States during 2006 are given below
This information was given by Shri Kanti Lal Bhuria, Minister of State for Agriculture in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
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