Monsanto India Limited (MIL) now offers its Dekalb - high yielding maize hybrid seeds to the farming community of Una, Solan, Kangra, Hamirpur and Mandi districts in Himachal Pradesh. Dekalb a hybrid maize variety gives superior yield, with large cylindrical cobs, more rows and bigger grain per row. Highly responsive to inputs, this variety has a proven high-potential yield. Monsanto's Dekalb Advantage Program - a special initiative to demonstrate the benefits of Dekalb hybrid over OPV (Open Pollinated Variety) is currently underway in Una, Mandi and Solan districts, and already many progressive farmers are experiencing its benefits.

Agriculture being the main occupation of the people of Himachal Pradesh has an important role in the economy of the State. It provides direct employment to about 71% of the main working population. Income from the agriculture and allied sector accounts for nearly 22.5% of the State Domestic Product. Out of the total geographical area of 55.673 lakh hectares, the area of operational holding is about 9.99 lakh hectares owned by 8.63 lakh farmers. Marginal and small farmers constitute 84.5% of the total land holdings. The cultivated area in the State is only 10.4%, and approx. 80% of the area is rain-fed.

Corn is one of Himachal Pradesh's key crops with acreage currently is more than 7 lakh acres, with 5 lakh acres under OPV seeds, and 2 lakh acres under hybrid seeds. Currently, more than 75% farmers use OPV seeds, while only 25% of hybrid maize farmers use Dekalb hybrid seeds. Himachal currently produces 5% of India's maize. The average productivity from the farm saved seed and hybrids currently delivers 8-15 quintals per acre. This while Dekalb Hi-Shell farmers are realizing a minimum of 20-22 quintal sper acre that can go up to as high as 28- 30 quintals per acre.

Farmers in Una, Haroli, Amb and Bangana talukas in Una district are subject to several limitations when it comes to adoption of hybrid seeds:

• Dependency on Rainfall - With meager irrigation facilities available, agriculture in HP is critically dependent on the rainfall. The seeds used are of the traditional variety. The use of HYV (high yielding varieties), fertilizers, tractors etc. is also marginal. Being poor, majority of the cultivators can hardly make any investment on their own. Consequently, the production and yield of all crops is far below the rest of the State and National averages.
• Low Productivity - Corn, a major kharif crop, is plagued by very low productivity to the tune of 8-15 quintal per acre from farm saved seeds or some old generation hybrid seeds whose productivity is not sufficient to propel the Himachali Corn farmers into the big league.
• Absence of Proper Marketing Facilities - In the absence of marketing yards/local mandis, farmers need to tow their produce across long distances to Hoshiarpur mandi which leaves them vulnerable to a lot of unseen circumstances like high transportation cost etc.
• Lack of easy availability and agronomic counsel.

Dekalb hybrid seeds will address four major farmer concerns:

1. Smaller land holdings therefore not enough per family

DEKALB gives better yield therefore he will have enough even on his small patch

2. Second-generation seed therefore loss of productivity
   With DEKALB, the farmer by default has to use first generation seed each times he sows, which means great yield year-after-year-after-year
   
3. High investment on field therefore lower profitability
   DEKALB may seem expensive initially, but the crop gives so much returns that it sets off the initial investment and gives one increased profitability
   
4. Owing to inherent advantage of Dekalb Hishell like high oil% of the grains, farmers are able to store the grains for a longer duration which enables them to time their marketing as per the commodity prices.

   Under Monsanto's Dekalb Advantage Program, farmers in Una and to a certain extent in the other 3 tehsils are taught the proper benefits of using Dekalb Hishell The Dekalb Advantage Team then educated the farmers in selected villages on agronomic management so as to achieve the best results, and now the results of these demos is being shard with farmers from surrounding villages.

   Corn is a very important cereal crop in India. India is ranked fifth in corn acreage after US, China, Brazil and Mexico. In per acre productivity, India is low with 0.8 metric tones per acres (MT/ac), where as world average is about 1.6 MT / ac. India needs to double its corn production in next ten years to meet the growing domestic demand from feed and starch sectors. With Dekalb, the small farmer can sure pave a way for self-reliance and better earnings in perspective of this demand.

   Dekalb is a 109-year-old brand that is today one of the biggest producers of hybrid corn seeds. The focus is strongly on science & technology to produce only high yielding hybrids based on extensive research to suit Indian conditions. Dekalb hybrids are known for their highest yields/Consistent performance and Best Quality. Dekalb portfolio consists of a range of high quality of seeds to suit every need and condition of Indian farmer ranging from irrigated to rainfed conditions, short duration to medium duration, hot climate to cold climate suitability, high yielding to very high yielding hybrids etc attack etc.
   

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