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South Africa


South African farmers grow more than 3.5 million acres (1.4 million hectares) of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton.  Plantings of biotechnology in Africa have significantly increased each year. Farmers have increased their incomes by US$56 million and reduced pesticide applications by 330,000 pounds (150,000 kg) between commercial-scale introduction in 1997 and 2004.  Small resource-poor farmers from the Makhatini Flats region of KwaZulu Natal — many with less than 2.5 acres (1 hectare) of land — have been able to rapidly adopt GM cotton and enjoy the same benefits of genetic engineering of food and crops as farmers in developed countries.
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Grower Profiles


Richard Sithole
In 2007, South African farmers grew more than 4 million acres (1.8 million hectares) of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton crops. Farmer Richard Sithole shares his experience with, and the benefits of, farming genetically engineered corn crops and the impact it has had on his family’s standard of living.
Length: 4:36
Elizabeth Jele
South African farmers grow more than 1.2 million acres (500,000 hectares) of biotech corn, soybeans and cotton.  For more than 15 years, South African grower Elizabeth Jele has farmed 1.25 acres (0.5 hectares) next to her home.  Among the benefits of genetic engineering of food and crops, she describes how the adoption of GM corn in 2002 has changed her life — eliminating pesticide applications and improving the future for her two children.
Length: 1:39
Thandiwe Myeni
South African farmers increased their incomes by US$56 million between 1997 and 2004.   As a single mom, school principal and South African farmer, Thandiwe Myeni shares how the benefits of genetic engineering of food and crops have simplified management of her 25-acre (10 hectare) farm.   In addition, improved yield and greater income is helping her provide for her five children’s educations.
Length: 2:23
Bethuel Gumede
South African cotton producer Bethuel Gumede has grown biotech cotton on his 12.5-acre (5 hectare) farm since 2001.   He describes how biotech cotton has made farming easier and improved his family’s quality of life.   He and his wife now have increased income for their home, can purchase better food and afford the school fees of their seven children.
Length: 1:43

Video Transcripts



Elizabeth Jele
We had problems with worms in the conventional corn that were eating our yield, and we couldn’t get enough food for the family. Then after I changed to ... the transgenic corn, there were no worms destroying our crops. ... I’m able now to take care of my family and my kids. Their future looks good because I’m no longer spending too much time in the field managing my farm. ... We were struggling to keep hunger out of our houses. Now, we have YieldGard. So if someone came and said we should stop using it, I would cry. I would cry.

Thandiwe Myeni
My husband is no more. He passed away in year 2000. I’m all here by myself. ... Here, most of the farmers are female farmers. ... I think, we need partnership, working together with those continents or countries that are well ahead with agriculture because every human being needs food in the stomach. You cannot do a thing without food. ... And for my kids, I use the money from cotton to take them to universities.

Bethuel Gumede
With this new cotton, I was able to build a house, and buy a TV and a refrigerator. And I was able to buy some goats and a cow. ... I’m also able to buy apples, oranges, and so on. ... And as you can see, my family is healthy. ... So, with this genetic technology, my life has changed completely.

Editor’s Note: YieldGard ® corn contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects corn plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests. YieldGard® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company.

© 2005 Monsanto Company. All rights reserved. The copyright holder consents to the use of this material and the images in the published context only and solely for the purpose of promoting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.