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Rajaram Murlidhar Lambe


Major Crops: Cotton

Farm Size: 1-2 hectares (2.5 – 5 acres)

Years Farming: 7+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 2002

Favorite Benefits: Increased yields, increased income

Family: Married, one child

After using this cotton seed, my financial condition improved.
After using this cotton seed, my financial condition improved.
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BT COTTON CROPS BENEFIT FARMERS IN INDIA
Lambe Sees Yields Increase, Pesticide Applications Decrease and Financial Well-Being Improve

Since the introduction of Bt cotton crops in India in 2002, Indian farmers have become the most rapid adopters of biotech crops in the world, largely due to the socio-economic benefits that are occurring across Bt cotton-growing areas. In fact, two studies released in July 2007 conclude that farmers in India have increased their net profit by more than 160 percent and eliminated approximately five pesticide applications per acre since adopting Bt cotton crops.

“About six years back, I had decided not to sow cotton seeds at all,” says Indian farmer Rajaram Murlidhar Lambe who has planted cotton for nearly 10 years. “I was fed up with the bollworms, which is our main enemy. No matter how much we sprayed and worked hard, we would not get sufficient yield. We would get only 1 or 2 quintals of cotton. So I decided not to grow cotton, because money and effort both were being wasted. …

But when biotech cotton seeds came into the market, I did a complete study of the product. In the first year, I used 3 acres of land to sow these seeds. And I experienced a good yield,” continues Lambe, describing his decision to adopt insect-protected cotton crops containing a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects cotton plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests.

“The spraying, which we used to do quite often, is not required now. The spraying went down to zero,” explains Lambe about pesticide application reduction. “We got double the yield with biotech cotton. I started with 3 acres, then 6 acres, and now 12 acres of cotton. … And every year I’ve been increasing.”

The highlights of the two studies on “ Cotton Farming in India” released by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) note that both Bt cotton farming villages and households are faring better than non-Bt cotton farming villages and households across a broad range of parameters on the socio-economic front. “Since the yield has increased, money has increased. From that money, I dug two wells in my field. … In the second year, I did repair work on my house. …. After that, … I managed to buy a tractor,” says Lambe about the impact of agricultural biotechnology on farm economics.

Other major findings of the study focus on benefits realized within the villages, such as increased maternal care services, higher levels of immunizations and larger school enrollment for the children of Bt farmers compared to non-Bt farmers. Bt cotton-growing villages also experienced increased access to services such as telephone systems, electricity, drinking water, Internet connectivity, banking services, and better access to markets with a corresponding increase in shops and goods.

Notes from the Editor:

  • Bt cotton contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects cotton plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests.
  • Pesticides registered by the U.S. EPA will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on man or the environment, when used in accordance with label directions.
  • 10 quintals = 1 metric ton

© 2007 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.

Video Transcript



My name is Rajaram Murlidhar Lambe. … I am a married farmer. I have my wife and a son. …

… If you want to know why I use biotech cotton seeds, then let me to tell you. About six years back, I had decided not to sow cotton seeds at all. At that time, biotech cotton seeds were not available in our market. I was fed up with the bollworms, which is our main enemy. No matter how much we sprayed and worked hard, we would not get sufficient yield. We would get only 1 or 2 quintals of cotton. So I decided not to grow cotton, because money and effort both were being wasted. My financial situation started deteriorating. …

But when biotech cotton seeds came into the market, I did a complete study of the product. In the first year, I used 3 acres of land to sow these seeds. And I experienced a good yield.

The spraying, which we used to do quite often, is not required now. The spraying went down to zero. … We got double the yield with biotech cotton. I started with 3 acres, then 6 acres, and now 12 acres of cotton. … And every year I’ve been increasing. …

Since the yield has increased, money has increased. From that money, I dug two wells in my field. … In the second year, I did repair work on my house. …. After that, … I managed to buy a tractor. … A tractor helps me a lot in my work. … After using this cotton seed, my financial condition improved. … After that, whenever I met any farmer, I would tell them how Bollgard is profitable. …

… The ones who were using other seeds started using Bollgard. And due to good yield, money started coming into the homes of all the farmers.

Notes from the Editor:

  • Bollgard® cotton contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects the plant from specific lepidopteron insect pests. Bollgard is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company.
  • Pesticides registered by the U.S. EPA will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on man or the environment, when used in accordance with label directions.
  • 10 quintals = 1 metric ton