The Hindu Business Line : Icrisat biopesticide project gets World Bank award

A PROJECT developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) for managing pigeonpea pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera), through the production and use of the biopesticide, nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), has won the World Bank's Development Marketplace Award for 2005.

Icrisat and partner, the Centre for World Solidarity (a Hyderabad-based non-Governmental organisation working on integrated pest management), will receive a grant of $1,50,000, for establishing 100 community-based rural NPV production facilities.

The project's sustainability is based on the programme to train villagers on NPV production and utilisation, and thus spread awareness on the use of biopesticides.

The Icrisat's project, titled Traditional technology with a modern twist, is among the 31 projects selected through global competition by the World Bank for this year's Award.

"The technology for the production of NPV builds on the traditional farmers' practice of vigorously shaking pigeonpea plants to dislodge caterpillars (Helicoverpa larvae) and collect to use them for the virus multiplication in a village," says Dr G.V. Ranga Rao, Special Project Scientist at Icrisat, who is also the project leader.

This cost-effective and eco-friendly method is known to reduce the pod borer infestation up to 85 per cent. Currently, the dislodged larvae are collected and burnt.

The Icrisat's technology uses the wasted larvae for producing NPV, according to an Icrisat release.

In addition to the establishment of 100 community-based NPV production units, the project will establish knowledge hubs and sharing management systems for Helicoverpa management.

Helicoverpa attacks nearly 200 crops including cotton, pulses, cereals, vegetables and fruits.

Global losses due to this pest attack amounts to approximately $2 billion a year, with an additional cost of $500 million spent on insecticides.

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