IFA Recognizes Two Laureates for Norman Borlaug Award
24 April 2012 The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) will recognize two laureates for the 2012 IFA Norman Borlaug Award.
Dr. Greta Gabinete of the Philippines, the second woman in the history of the award and Mr. Rikin Gandhi of India, have completed work in providing extension services to farmers.
Dr. Gabinete is director of the Research and Development Center at West Visayas State University in the Philippines. She has been instrumental in the development and transfer of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM)-based technology for rice in the province of Iloilo in the Western Visayas region.
From 2006, she has used a systematic approach involving the validation of SSNM-based technology for rice, the establishment of guidelines derived from SSNM principles, the development of locally adapted decision tools and aids for dissemination and for the establishment of partnerships. Some of the advanced technologies and innovative tools that Gabinete has been involved in to facilitate the transfer of technology are: a quick guide to rice fertilization; web applications of decision support software in English and 6 local dialects; and videos for improved nutrient management.
By the end of 2009, about 4000 farmers in the Iloilo Province had been reached through training programs, lectures and demonstration plots. In 2010/11, an additional 2000 farmers were oriented and trained on the SSNM technology. Through this approach, yields increased in most cases, raising farmers’ net incomes by the target level of US$ 100 per hectare per season.
Gandhi is the chief executive officer of Digital Green, a non-governmental organization whose interests include sustainable agriculture and technology for socio-economic development in India and Ethiopia. It supports established extension systems and other partners to improve livelihoods of small, marginal farmers through the targeted production and dissemination of locally relevant agricultural information via participatory video and mediated instruction.
Digital Green’s model is especially compelling and effective because its videos are of farmers and for farmers, produced and disseminated by innovatively blending technology with social marketing. All the videos are made and screened locally by village-level mediators and feature local farmers who train other farmers in the community on sustainable practices that enhance productivity and mitigate the effects of climate change. To ensure that this focus on the needs of individual farmers is institutionalized and sustained in the long term, under Gandhi’s guidance, Digital Green has iteratively developed a comprehensive framework of standard operating procedures.
Digital Green has been shown to be at least ten times as effective, per dollar spent, in increasing the uptake of sustainable agricultural practices by farmers than traditional approaches to agricultural extension. Thus far, the Digital Green network has connected over 1100 villages in India and Ethiopia and produced over 2100 videos. It reaches more than 90,000 farmers each week.
Gabinete and Gandhi were nominated by Atlas Fertilizer Corporation and the International Plant Nutrition Institute, respectively, and they were selected by an independent jury. Both laureates will accept their award at the Opening Session of the IFA Annual Conference on Tuesday, 22 May in Doha, Qatar.
For more information about IFA’s Norman Borlaug Award:
http://www.fertilizer.org/ifa/HomePage/INITIATIVES/IFA-Norman-Borlaug-Award
For more information about IFA’s annual conference:
http://www.fertilizer.org/HomePage/EVENTS/IFA-events.html/2012-IFA-Annual-Conference
Source: IFA, edited by Stefanie A. Toth, Online Editor
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