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The Centre’s decision to raise Bt cotton seed prices ahead of the Kharif season has drawn sharp criticism from experts and farmers, who pointed to declining yields and rising pink bollworm

infestations in recent years. Critics alleged that the government approved the hike without assessing the seeds’ performance or consulting those most affected.

According to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on March 28, 2025, the maximum sale price for a 475-gramme packet of Bt cotton seeds — which

includes 5 to 10 per cent non-Bt seeds — was fixed at Rs 635 for Bollgard I (BG-I) and Rs 901 for Bollgard II (BG-II).

While the price of BG-I remained unchanged, the cost of BG-II increased by Rs 37, or 4.2 per cent compared to the previous year, just before cotton sowing commences in June.

Farmers typically prefer BG-II, which is considered more resistant to pests. However, experts argued that the annual increases in BG-II seed prices were unjustified, especially in the

absence of a comprehensive performance review.

“There is no explanation or calculation to justify this price rise. Since 2016-17, after the Cotton Seed Price (Control) Order, 2015, was invoked, arbitrarily removing the power of state

governments, BG-I prices have remained static, while BG-II prices continue to rise,” said Narasimha Reddy Donthi, public policy expert who has also been working to promote sustainable

farming practices. 

Bt cotton, introduced in India in 2002 as the country’s first genetically modified (GM) crop, was originally designed to protect against the pest American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera).

However, within a few years, it began to succumb to pink bollworm (Pectinophora Gossypiella Saunders) infestations. Climate change, with shifting temperatures and rainfall patterns, has

exacerbated pest outbreaks.

Farmers have reported mounting losses and rising debts due to recurring pest attacks over the last several years. Cotton yields have steadily declined — from 510.82 kilogramme/hectare in

2014-15 to 436.99 kg/ha in 2024-25, according to data from the Cotton Association of India.

Donthi criticised the cotton seed committee for increasing prices despite these poor outcomes in a letter to Union Minister for Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan on March 30, 2025.

He added that the committee “has failed to assess the performance of both BG-I and BG-II Bt cotton seeds, even while cotton farmers have been complaining of very poor yields, high incidence

of pink bollworm, increased pesticide usage and rising costs of cultivation, low quality cotton formation in the bolls, black fungus and other myriad issues.”

The Cotton Seed Price (Control) Order was issued by the Centre in 2015 and notified under the Essential Commodities Act. It centralised the control of seed pricing under a national

committee, removing the role of state governments. 

Donthi alleged that since 2016-17, the committee had failed to consult farmers or hold public consultations. “Before this, we had a consultative process, where state agriculture departments

would call farmer representatives, seed companies and officials to discuss issues of pricing and distribution,” he said. 

However, at the same time, seed companies have called the hike “marginal” and not enough to cover rising production costs. 

While calling for a more transparent way of fixing seed prices, Rohit Parakh, food and agriculture policy analyst, also advocated for native or desi cotton, with its low water footprint, no

agrochemical dependency and ecological benefits, receiving its long overdue focus. 

“With encouraging results from non-Bt cotton in multiple states, both state and Union governments should actively promote non-GM cotton. Initiatives by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

and Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) have demonstrated have had very positive results with non-GM cotton in numerous states in last couple of years — notably without agrochemical usage or

their associated costs,” Parakh said.

A few years ago, the Haryana government introduced an incentive of Rs 3,000 per acre to promote desi cotton, but failed to ensure adequate seed availability, the analyst added.