A Broadcast Winner on Development

Contact
In Washington: Camille Funnell (202) 243-9589
cfunnell@worldbank.org

BAHAMAS, January 25, 2008 - An Indian television program highlighting the empowerment of women has been selected at this year’s winner of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association-World Bank award for the best radio or television program on development.

India’s national public television network, Doordarshan, was announced the winner for its program, God’s Own Crops, which tells the success story of a group of women farmers who organised themselves to takeover cultivation and food production in their villages, after the failure of cash crops.

The award was presented to Doordarshan News' special correspondent, Emani Krishna Rao, by Camille Funnell, the World Bank’s Chief of Broadcast, at the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s 27^th general conference in Nassau, Bahamas.

“God’s Own Crops is a compelling film showing the spirit and determination of a group of rural women, who revived traditional methods of farming and also ran their own radio station to carry their message across the villages,” Funnell said. 

Emani Krishna Rao said the award was "a tribute to the wonderful work" of women's groups of Deccan Development Society in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh.

"A few years back they were just ordinary women doing very simple things in sleepy villages," he said.  "Nobody realized their strength."

"The age old wisdom and traditional practices were looked down by men with the introduction of cash crops.  Everyone wanted to become rich in no time with less effort.   They invested everything in commercial agriculture without realising the hidden dangers.  When the crops failed due to erratic monsoon and pests, the money lenders brought pressures on the agararian communities which affected their self dignity. "

Rao said that led to cases of depression and suicides among men. 

"The women thought enough was enough and took agriculture into their own hands. Now the crops require just minimal rainfall, no pesticides and average sub soil temperature. "

He said the name, "God's own crops" stemmed from the locals, who said God smiled at the efforts of the women.

Also highly commended in this year’s award for a program on development were ' Mined to death', from NDTV and 'Utilising modern communications for the farmer’, from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.