NGO to help Monsanto 'educate' farmers

The agricultural biotechnology company Monsanto has partnered Gujarat Rural Institute for Socio-economic Reconstruction Vadodara, also known as GRISERV, to educate farmers on the benefits of growing BT cotton.

The project comprises training sessions for farmers to educate them about the value of Bollgard technology and the socio-economic benefits they get. Jayantilal Satashia, a representative of Monsanto, charted out the details of the tie-up with GRISERV.

GRISERV is an NGO working towards upgrading the lives of the rural poor. According to Satashia, BT and Bollgard technology can reduce farmers' cost of cultivation by reducing pesticide use, and thereby increasing yield.

Satashia trained the GRISERV project officers who in turn trained 180 village opinion leaders on the company's BT cotton seeds and crop management techniques. The project officers also conducted 40 field days, covering 75 villages and 2,800 farmers.

At a farmer gathering in Rajkot they shared farmers¿ experiences and how using the technology increased yield. This project has caught international attention and an agriculture delegation from Uganda visited the area to see the results and interact with the farmers.

Girishbhai Patel, a senior project officer with GRISERV says, "With the systematic implementation of the education program on Bollgard and Bollgard II technologies, farmers have doubled their cotton production to 18-20 quintal/ acre in 2006, against 8-10 quintals per acre in 2005."

"We noticed instances of socio-economic changes among many Bollgard farmers. Some have installed irrigation pipe lines, constructed storage rooms at farms, repaired wells and houses, and repaid old debts too. With the introduction of these new technologies, our organisation got the entire new concept of rural development through extension education among marginal farmers," he said.

"This is the first time an NGO has adopted technology to promote social aims. Also, I am happy that I could be part of the education process to bring the benefits of the new technology to the resource limited farmers. We are very grateful to GRISERV for their support and look forward to partnering with more NGOs as well," Satashia said.