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Bethuel Gumede


Major Crops: Cotton, corn, vegetables

Farm Size: 12.5 acres (5 hectares)

Years Farming: 10+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 2001

Favorite Benefits: Simple to use.  Reduced chemical applications.  More income for family and school fees.

Family: Married, seven children

With this genetic technology, my life has changed completely.
With this genetic technology, my life has changed completely.
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Video Transcript


This new cotton is good for me as a farmer, because the strong chemicals I normally used when I was planting the old cotton, I’m not using now.  So, I think it is good for me. … Growing the old cotton was difficult because I had to collect water from far away to come and spray.  And then, the chemicals are very expensive. … So it was very difficult to plant cotton in those days.  But with this new cotton, it is very easy. … It gives me enough time to do other things like planting crops like maize. …

I get enough yield with this type of new cotton – close to 30 to 40 bales on three hectares – that I’m able to pay school fees for my kids and to save some of the money so I can plant the next season. … To me, it is very important to be able to afford school fees because I see education as much more important than anything.  I will be glad if, in the future, my kids will be able to go to university.  And, I’m looking to my land to pay for all of that. …

… 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 with this money. … I’m able now to buy rice of high quality.  And I’m able to buy maize meal with high vitamins.  I’m also able to buy apples, oranges, and so on, so my family can be healthy. …

My life has changed.  As you can see … my children are healthier than before.  So with this genetic technology, my life has changed completely.

Editor’s Note: 1 hectare = 2.5 acres

© 2006 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.