The programme for certified seeds production programme was implemented in 1991-92 for hybrid cotton H-6. So far, CCI has funded Rs 92.92 lakh under the programme, the cost per kilogramme works out to be around Rs 15.

During the current year CCI has offered certified seed production programme for hybrid cotton H-10 in the state. This will help in improving the quality of the cotton production in the state.

Gujarat has set a record by producing the highest quantity of cotton during the current cotton year (November 1997-October 1998) at 41lakh bales. The state has almost doubled the cotton production from 22.60 lakh bales in 1992-93 and has emerged as the largest cotton producer of the country.

During current year CCI has adopted 41 villages in Gujarat covering an area of 3,440 hectares. The farmers of the adopted villages were supplied certified seeds at 25-per cent discount. CCI distributed a total of 63.75 quintals to the adopted villages at a total discount of Rs 5.30 lakh.It also distributed 750 kilograms of certified seeds outside the village adoption programme at cost price. Besides, CCI also distributed 1,056 litres of quality pesticides in the state at cost price during the current year and has a target of providing 25,000 litres of the same in the next year.

State seed corporations' failure to provide certified cotton seeds as per the choice of the farmers led to shortfall in the targets during the year 1997-98. Northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have miserably failed in the achieving the targets set forproducing certified cotton seeds.

It is worth mentioning that only Gujarat and Karnataka have achieved the targets of producing certified seeds at 1,800 and 2,200 quintals, respectively last year.

The target for certified seeds production for the year 1997-98 was 24,700 quintals whereas the achievement was a meagre 7,651 quintals, a 69-per cent shortfall in the target. Madhya pradesh too failed miserably in the certified seeds production programme. Haryana had been the major under performer by producing hardly any seeds against the set target of 5,000 quintals. Punjab produced 654 quintals cotton seeds as against a target of 7,000 quintals, Rajasthan by 3,500 quintals at 1,500 quintals and Madhya Pradesh at 1,497 quintals was way below the targeted Cotton arrivals at 161 lakh bales.