What if spraying fewer pesticides did more to combat the most harmful pest ravaging your farm in Hyderabad, India? Imagine if you could learn about science and integrated pest management while listening to a radio soap opera? Imagine, too, if an Italian child could buy a Cameroonian gold fish as a pet.

Three researchers—including two from CGIAR—who developed creative techniques that respond positively to these thoughts were among 31 others chosen as winners of the 2005 World Bank Development Marketplace, a global competition that supports innovative, development ideas while delivering results in the fight against poverty.

“The CGIAR and its partners are at the forefront of scientific innovation, essential for developing innovative solutions to generate wealth and reduce poverty in an environmentally responsible manner,” said Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman and World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. “These projects show science for people at its best.”

The Development Marketplace attracts a variety of individuals and institutions from across civil society, including academic institutions, farmers’ groups, and the private sector to work in partnership fighting poverty. The three winners received over $430,000 in prize money.

The Winning Projects

Traditional Technology with a Modern Twist : Indian farmers spend over US$500 million each year on insecticides to combat the Helicoverpa armigera pest that attacks nearly 200 crops, including beans, cereals, and fruits. “Farmers commit the mistake of thinking the more pesticides, the better” said Ranga Rao Gangavalli, ICRISAT plant pathologist who is leading an effort to introduce new techniques to counter the damaging pest in India. The Center for World Solidarity (CWS), in partnership with the ICRISAT, national scientists, and local communities is providing Indian farmers with cheaper and more eco-friendly pest management alternatives, including the nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) technique that causes heavy mortality in pod borers without harming other organisms.

The NPV can be produced for one-third the cost of pesticides and creates additional income-generating opportunities for farmers. “We anticipate farmers will save an average of $17 per hectare by using village-level production units, and participatory training will ensure the project’s long-term sustainability,” asserted Ranga Rao Gangavalli.

Environment Radio Soap Opera for Rural Vietnam : Thousands of rice farmers in Vietnam use excessive amounts of fertilizer, pesticide and water that contribute to environmental pollution and resource degradation. Starting this year, a unique collaboration between social scientists, ecologists, and creative writers will result in an informative and motivational radio soap opera that teaches rural communities in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta to reduce chemical use on farms and cut farmer’s exposure to pesticides. The project, pioneered by a joint partnership between Vietnam’s Broadcasting Authority, the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and IRRI plans to reach approximately 10 million rural households.

IRRI's Monina Escalada receives her prize from World Bank President
James D. Wolfensohn.

“The scientific data on water management, crop residue management, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) already exists,” says Monina Escalada, rice researcher at IRRI and project leader. “The key was to find a simple and accessible medium of dissemination for which the humble radio is perfect.” Radios are a traditional, low-cost communication tool, and soap operas are a popular source of entertainment across Vietnam.

The biweekly broadcasts convey stories on effective plant protection using biological control methods and the hazardous effects of pesticides, combining them with elements of human drama such as love, conflict, childbirth and death. In addition, farmers receive training materials.

Sustainable Use of African Rainforest Rivers : Many people do not know that rivers in the rainforest areas of southern Cameroon contain over 200 species of ornamental fish, valued at $1.8 million per ton in the international markets. However, overfishing and the destruction of over one million hectares of forests annually have caused loss of biodiversity and increased poverty in the region. In an effort to capture untapped resources, the Cameroon National Agriculture Research Institute and the Organization for Environment and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the WorldFish Center, developed a business model to raise and sell ornamental fish through a multi-stage capacity building program.

“In pioneering this initiative, we recognize communities are searching for new ways to improve their living standards by developing competitive products they can sell on the global market,” said Randall Brummett, project leader at WorldFish Center. The training program will increase returns to local communities by around 500 percent teach them techniques for safe fish capture, handling culture, as well as management and marketing skills. With a special focus on women and youth, the program will ensure future generations of Cameroonians are better prepared to face the development challenges of their time.

“Innovations for Livelihoods in a Sustainable Environment,” was the theme of the 2005 Development Marketplace, and 2005 was a banner year: over 2,600 applications were received from 136 countries, and 78 finalists were chosen by a jury of 34 specialists. Finalists participated in a two-day competition and exhibition held in May 2005 at World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.

For more information visit: www.developmentmarketplace.org