The project developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for managing the pigeonpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, through the production and use of the biopesticide Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) has won World Bank's Development Marketplace Award for 2005.

ICRISAT's project, titled Traditional technology with a modern twist, is among the 31 projects selected through global competition by World Bank for this year's Award. ICRISAT and partner, the Center for World Solidarity (a Hyderabad-based non-governmental organization working on integrated pest management), will receive a grant of US$150,000, for establishing 100 community-based rural NPV production facilities. The project's sustainability is based on the program to train villagers on NPV production and utilization, and thus spread awareness on the use of biopesticides.

According to Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, the Award is another recognition of the Institute's pursuit of science with a human face. "While we pursue scientific excellence, we ensure that it results in the improved well-being of the poor and marginal farmers of the semi-arid tropics."

"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 GV 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%. Presently, the dislodged larvae are collected and burnt. ICRISAT's technology uses the wasted larvae for producing NPV.

ICRISAT has developed and pilot-tested the technology for producing NPV. The Institute's research has addressed problems related to mass production, storage, utilization of the virus and application timings and the package is ready for dissemination.

NPV infection causes heavy mortality in pod borers without any adverse impact on non-target organisms. The technology for NPV production involves collecting the larvae and feeding them with an NPV-infected diet till they die due to the infection. The NPV biopesticide is extracted from the larvae dead due to the virus infection, and can be sprayed on crops to prevent Helicoverpa attack.

Even though the technology of NPV production was stabilized, the production costs were high since larvae had to be reared to be treated with NPV-infected diet. The rearing costs can be eliminated when farmers are encouraged to return to their traditional method of shaking pigeonpeas to dislodge the caterpillars. The village-level NPV production facility will in turn provide additional income to the farmers.

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.