Monsanto’s

Human Rights
Programme
Making a difference globally at our
seed sites

Monsanto’s Human Rights Policy is in line with the

‘UN International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Declaration of Human Rights’. The policy covers Child
Labour, Forced Labour, Compensation, Work Hours,
Harassment & Violence, Discrimination, Safety, Freedom
of Association, and Legal Compliances.

One of Monsanto’s pioneering initiatives in Indian

agriculture is our Human Rights Child Care Programme
(CCP) implemented under the guidance of a multi
stakeholder committee with NGOs – Voluntary
Organisation of Rural Development Society (VORDS),
Glocal Research & Consultancy, Australian Foundation for
the People of Asia Pacific (AFAP) and the seed industry.
A combination of awareness and education campaigns,
external third party audits and an incentive/disincentive
programme is helping educate and encourage farmers
produce hybrid cotton seed with adult labour only.

This programme, commenced in 2006, and encouraged

farmers who proactively started limiting the use of
child labour in fields and encouraged their peers to do
so. The additional incentives further stimulated farmer
involvement and ensured that the programme had
a lasting impact. As a result, supported by the CCP’s
efforts, farmers have reduced child labour on Monsanto’s
hybrid cotton seed production fields from 20 per cent
in 2004 (prior to Monsanto acquiring its cotton seed
business) to less than 0.5 per cent as on date.
In order to recognise community efforts amongst
farmers who are committed to only use adult labour
in our hybrid cotton seed production fields, ‘Child
Labour Free’ villages have been recognised as ‘Model
Villages’. Each Model village is awarded in kind, for
community development. We are also committed to
promote a culture of safety on our cotton seed production
fields and provide Personal Protection Equipment
(PPE) kits for farmer protection and safety training.
Snakebite-prone areas are also provided with anti-venom
protection kits.

As an extension of the Human Rights Programme, the

Monsanto Fund Learning Center was set up with NGOs
VORDS and AFAP in Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh to
rehabilitate children engaged in labour and enable
them to integrate with mainstream education with the
help of an education bridging module. This learning
centre also includes facilities such as dormitories,
classrooms, first-aid rooms, independent kitchens
and dining blocks.

Awareness Campaigns, Audits and

Incentives help farmers employ only
adult labour.
Child labour on cotton seed production
fields down from 20 per cent in 2004 to
less than 0.5 per cent as on date.
Multi-stakeholder programme in Gujarat,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu.

www.monsantoindia.com