Well-known film star, Nana Patekar will launch the ‘Bollgard Kisan Vigyan Jyoti’ programme in Aurangabad on Friday, April 29, 2005. Planned to celebrate the revolution that Bollgard has brought to cotton farming and the benefits that it brings to Indian farmers, this promotion is sponsored by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech. (MMB)

According to Ranjana Smetacek, spokesperson for MMB, “The Bollgard Kisan Vigyan Jyoti programme aims at spreading the light that has brightened the lives of thousands of cotton farmers in India. Ever-increasing Bollgard plantings demonstrate that Indian farmers are more than willing to adopt a technology that delivers consistent benefits in terms of reduced pesticide use and increased income. We are fortunate that Mr Patekar has agreed to participate in this movement.” In addition to addressing farmer meetings in Aurangabad and Jalgaon, Mr.Patekar will tour the Maharashtra countryside, spreading his message among rural audiences.

After Maharashtra Hybrids Seeds Co Ltd (Mahyco) received regulatory approval in March 2002, Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) Ltd (MMB) sold 72,000 acres of the three approved Bollgard hybrids in the first year. In 2003, the second year of launch, the acreage under Bollgard cotton increased three-fold to 230,000 acres. In 2004, Rasi Seeds received approval for one hybrid and Bollgard sales rose to 1.3 million acres, a six-fold increase over the previous year. Bollgard was planted in India by approximately 350,000 farmers in 2004.

Cotton is grown by four million Indian farmers on close to 25 million acres - the world’s largest cotton acreage – but ranks among the lowest in productivity. The biggest impediment to cotton production is the damage caused by insect pests, the most harmful being the bollworm. Over half of all insecticides used in Indian agriculture are used for the cotton crop; and of the insecticides used in cotton, about 70% are used for bollworm control.

Bollgard? insect-protected Bt cotton is widely used around the world for the control of bollworms. It is the most tested cotton in the world today. Scientific studies demonstrate that it is safe for the environment, human beings, animals and agriculture. Its use has significantly reduced insecticides in the environment and studies have shown that it provides an easy, effective and safe method for control of bollworms and will help raise farm incomes for the Indian farmer. The Bollgard Vigyan Jyoti is aimed at spreading the benefits of this technology across villages and districts.

MMB is a 50:50 marketing JV between Mahyco and Monsanto India Ltd. MMB has co-licensing agreements with nineteen Indian cotton seed companies to bring Bollgard to Indian farmers.

For further details contact:
Vishwesh / Lovlyn
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