The purpose of the MDV is to train farmers to use Bollgard cotton, modern weed control and fertilizer to boost their yield, as well as to provide a showplace farm for visiting government leaders and the media. CMOA contributes its influence with the national government to bring senior Chinese leaders on tours of the demonstration village. As a result, chemical insecticide use was reduced by 835,000 liters in Hebei Province alone in 1998. Further, it was shown by a Hebei Agricultural University study that the biodiversity of beneficial insects and other wildlife in Bollgard fields was significantly higher than in fields of conventional cotton. And, from a societal standpoint, Bollgard 's labor-saving benefits enabled farm women to plant and manage the family crop alone, freeing male farmers to seek other gainful employment.
Surveys indicate the majority of farmers are satisfied with the new technology.
With the introduction of microcredit programs to help farmers and the development of MDVs throughout China, more and more Chinese growers have the potential to benefit from this technology. In 1998, preregistration trials began. G 101 has been in testing and field trials in China since 1989. By 1995, Monsanto had received variety registration and had begun seed production. Market share increased to 46 percent this year.