(a) whether Government assessed the requirement of cotton seeds in the country including Gujarat during the current plan period;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise during the above period
(c) whether any assessment also made in regard to quantity of BT cotton and non-BT cotton variety of seeds likely to be supplied by public sector and private sector companies; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, separately for the said period?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): The requirement and availability of cotton certified/quality seed in the
country including Gujarat for the current Plan period is at Annexure.
(c) & (d): 94.06 lakh was under cotton in 2008-09 (IVth Advance Estimates).
Of this 60.77 lakh was under Bt. Cotton. Bt. Cotton seed was supplied by private
sector. 17.5% of Non-Bt. Cotton seed against requirement was available in public
sector as per information provided by States.