With the support of the Monsanto?s Human Rights Child Care Program (CCP), farmers have reduced child labour on company?s hybrid cotton seed production fields in India from 20% in 2004 to less than 1% in 2008.
Monsanto is a leading agriculture company focused on enhancing farm productivity by high-yielding seeds and traits, and agricultural productivity.
In order to recognise community efforts amongst farmers who are committed to only use adult labour in company?s hybrid cotton seed production fields, seven ?Child Labour Free? villages have been recognised as ?Model Villages?.
Raiya Rampur in Deodhar, Moto Vajpur and Vav in Bodeli, Gujarat; Allur and Gulladurthi in Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh and Seelampatti in Salem, Tamil Nadu are model villages in 2008. Each Model Village receives an honorarium worth Rs 25,000 in kind, for community development initiatives.
?Monsanto?s production fields represent 10% of India?s hybrid cotton seed production acres. This year, we are increasing our engagement by 120% to include over 10,700 farmers across 7,450 acre in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat,? YR Mohana Rao, director-Human Rights, Monsanto India said.