Bt Cotton seed prices up 18.5% in India, fertiliser costs vary

The price of Bt Cotton Bollgard-II (BG-II) seeds rose by Rs 134 per packet over the past four years, increasing from Rs 730 in 2020 to Rs 864 in 2024 an 18.5 per cent hike. Prices climbed to Rs 767 in 2021, Rs 810 in 2022, Rs 853 in 2023, and Rs 864 in 2024.

Meanwhile, urea prices remained unchanged at Rs 5377 per metric tonne (Rs 242 per 45 kg packet). However, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), and complex fertilisers saw varied price hikes, raising input costs for farmers. The price of DAP increased from Rs 24,966 per metric tonne in 2020-21 to Rs 27,000 in 2024-25, while MOP prices increased from Rs 17,872 to Rs 31,151 per metric tonne over the same period.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur, in response to MP Mohammed Nadimul Haque’s query in Lok Sabha, said the government ensures fair Bt Cotton seed prices through the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015.

While urea prices remain stable, phosphatic and potassic fertiliser rates fluctuate with international markets. To maintain affordability, the government extended a one-time special package for DAP beyond the Nutrient Based Subsidy rates until March 2025.