Bt Seed Mkt To Touch Rs 1,000 Cr

New Delhi: In 2006, an anticipated 38 lakh hectares (lh) were covered under Bt cotton - out of the country's total cotton area of 91.30 lh, comprising some 63 lh under hybrids and the rest under various desi and American varieties. According to the Union Agriculture Ministry, cotton acreage this year has reached 87.45 lh as on August 17, of which Bt hybrids account for 53.32 lh. At 2.47 acres to a hectare, 55 lh translates into almost 136 lakh acres. Since farmers plant one packet for every acre and assuming an average rate of Rs 750, the size of the domestic Bt seed market will be roughly Rs 1,020 crore.