Neem tech centre begins commercial rollout of pesticides

The Neem Information and Technology Development Centre at Gondkhairi run by the Mumbai-based Neem Foundation has commenced commercial production of neem powder as a versatile pesticide.

The centre which has both production and training facilities for farmers and entrepreneurs says it will provide quality pesticide to farmers from this season. In the long run the centre plans to produce neem based cake and oil.

Pramila Thakkar, managing trustee, Neem Foundation, said the centre has started commercial production of neem powder which was available at Rs 30 per kg in jute bags of 10 kgs. The pesticide acts as both repellent and an anti-feedant on almost all types of pests.

Till now the centre was promoting neem as a pesticide and fertiliser among farmers in various villages around Gondkhairi. The farmers were expected to collect seeds on their own and produce seed powder. The centre's staff taught them the scientific method of selecting the seeds and the technique of production.

However, as collecting seeds, de-pulping them, crushing them manually to produce powder was a tedious job and farmers appeared to be a little reluctant in adopting neem as an alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

Regular interaction has eventually yielded results and farmers have gradually started adopting neem pesticides on a large scale.

According to Laxmikant Padole of the centre, since the powder is available in ready-to-use form many farmers are favouring it over traditional pesticides. Neem powder is being promoted as a protective agent against pests.

Crops sprayed with the powder require less amount of pesticides. It is also being used after a pest attack, though results are better when it is used before such an attack.

Thakkar said the foundation has got an extension as a UNDP project. In the second phase the foundation will collaborate with the ministries of commerce and finance to try the neem pesticides and fertilisers on cash crops like tea, coffee and spices which have a huge export market.

This will guarantee residue free produce, he added. The Neem Foundation has already tied up with tea, coffee and spices boards for conducting trials.

The centre uses a special additive with neutral pH developed by the Indian Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IIPFT), Gurgaon. One kilogram of neem powder is soaked in five litres of water overnight and adjuvant is added to the extract.

If plants are already attacked by the pests, the spray arrests their metamorphosis acting as a growth retardant thus controlling the attack.