Ordinance allows govt to appoint controller, stop exploitation of farmers by traders IN a move aimed at preventing the exploitation of farmers by cotton seed traders who sell seeds including transgenic (BT) cotton'' seeds at high prices, the Maharashtra Government had issued an ordinance which seeks to regulate the supply, distribution and sale of cotton seed by fixing its maximum sale price. Issued last month, the ordinance points out that "the traders who are dealing in cotton seed, including transgenic cotton seed, have been resorting to dubious methods and exploitation of poor farmers, particularly in respect of scarce type of cotton seed, causing unjustified burden on the farmers towards seed cost which is essential and vital input in the process of agriculture, thereby leading several farmers into debt trap." The Maharashtra Cotton Seeds (regulation of suppry, distribution, sale and fixation of sale price) Ordinance, 2008 enables the state government to appoint an official as the cotton seed controller. The controller can, among others, take into consideration the costs of production and fix the maximum sale price for all the types of cotton seeds. A person selling the seed at a higher price that the maximum price shall be punishable with a fine not less than Rs 5,000, but