After one growing season, the number of Makhatini farmers using Bollgard grew from 75 to 410, increasing the number of hectares planted in Bollgard to 752, or 15 percent of the region's cotton crop. Additional economic benefits that accrued to the small holders include less labor-intensive farming that allows the men to look for supplemental income off the farm. Families that grow Bollgard cotton have begun investing extra earnings in education, equipment, and better housing. There are also safety and health benefits from the use of the transgenic crop. From a safety point of view for small farmers is chiefly in the sphere of safe storage.
Many insecticide formulations look like milk.
T.J. Buthelezi, a small-scale grower from Makhatini points out that with the decline in use of insecticides and consequent problems with safe storage, protecting children from pesticides has been much easier. From a health perspective, Buthelezi says applicators who use backpack sprayers are chronically exposed to insecticides. In South Africa, because of the excessive heat and humidity, farmers tend not to wear protective clothing.