Clos This Window Close This Window

Send To Your Printer Send To Your Printer

Thandiwe Myeni


Major Crops: Cotton

Farm Size: 25 acres (10 hectares)

Years Farming: 12+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 1999–2000

Favorite Benefits: Insect control with less spraying.  Consistent yield.  Money for education.

Family: Widow, 5 children

And for my kids, I use the money from cotton to take them to universities.
And for my kids, I use the money from cotton to take them to universities.
Send Link to this Page
close X

Video Transcript


My name is Thandiwe Myeni. ... I’m here with my family.  I’ve got 5 kids...  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’m a school principal full time and, besides that, I’m a farmer. ... I’m farming on 10 hectares.  I’m farming cotton ... because here we’re having a dry land, so the only thing that survives is the cotton. ...

We had a huge problem – the problem of the insects, the worms.  They give a problem in such a way that, if they’re not properly controlled, you don’t get something in your pocket. ...

And in 1999–2000, I wanted to try this Bollgard to see, because it was very difficult for me being alone to get somebody who would be doing the spraying for me. ...

The Bollgard is a little bit expensive than conventional...  But, at the end of the day, we save. ... You save a lot of money of buying chemicals, of getting somebody to help you in the field with spraying...  You save.

... If we have the right yield from our cotton, we sell it to the gin.  Then, we get better money so to provide everything for our homes. ... And for my kids, I use the money from cotton to take them to universities.

... Our children must really be educated because here in South Africa – and even internationally – there’s nothing that you can do without education.  You can be a farmer, a policeman, a teacher, whatever you want to be; but you must start by going to school.  So schooling is very important. ...

You know, as a mother, it’s a pride really because I’ve got kids that are learning. ...

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.

Editor’s Notes:

  • YieldGard® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company.
  • 1 hectare = 2.5 acres

© 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.