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Abstract
The quality of cottonseed matters most for the successful product
development. The quality cottonseed production is monitored by the
Haryana State Seed Certification Agency in the state. The study has
reviewed the prevailing contract cotton farming models; has studied mode
of operation of cotton contractual arrangements; has analyzed the
production matrix, growth and contributions; and has discerned and
quantified variations in intensive structure of public and private seed
firms. It has used both primary and secondary data. Appropriate statistical
tools, viz. exponential growth model, index, etc., have been used to study
the data. All categories of farmers have been brought together under the
management of private seed agency for production of cottonseed of a
single variety on a large homogeneous block. Contract cotton farming has
fully vetted the legal agreements with their growers. The public and private
agencies pay incentive price to farmers which is higher than the prevailing
market price. Farmers of private agency are free from the intricacies of
input and output markets, receive all technology and technical know-how
and have facilities for production and consumption loans, whereas farmers
of public agency are trailed far behind in terms of these benefits. Private
agency has flourished at the expanse of public agency since contract
cotton is incentivised by private contractors under flexible and farmerfriendly
production regime. The latest production technology, strong
capital and management base of private seed agency have left the public
agency behind in the competitive race. The study has concluded that
favourable changes in socio-economic and legal framework of government
policies have to be encouraged for the active participation of private sector
in cottonseed business and contract cottonseed farming has emerged as
a viable alternative farming in the post-WTO regime.