Neem plantation and processing has been found to be economically viable as well as
desirable for its social and ecological benefits. However, the promotion of neem on a large
scale amongst marginal farmers involves certain policy issues which have been identified
and posed in the chapter on ‘Economical and Policy issues’.
The commercialization of Neem products is
the ultimate aim of all the research and
development efforts. Indian market is likely to
be flooded with various neem-based
products for use in agriculture, medicine and
for various other purposes. It is high time to
develop a data base on the various products
and projects the national scenario with
respect to the progress made in their
commercialization. The same has been
attempted in this chapter.
In spite of the established virtues of this tree
it has failed to draw proper and due attention
of scientists, development officers,
administrators and policy makers. Citations
during the last 40 years continue to mention
around 14 million neem trees (with two
exceptions of 25 million trees) indicating lack
of systematic surveys at regular intervals. It
continues to be a neglected tree in its own
native land.
The National Seminar on Neem in Agriculture organized by IARI In 1983 adopted a resolution
for launching a mass movement for propagation of this versatile tree. This has remained a
far fetched goal. It is hoped that the vast array of information presented in this book will be
able to sensitize the decision makers at various levels to promote neem plantation in this
book will be able to sensitize the decision makers at various levels to promote neem
plantation on at least eight million hectares of the country’s wastelands to raise at least one
neem tree per person in the country. Taking a leas from the chapter on silviculture, starting
with about four thousands plants per hectare and phased felling at 5, 13, 25 and 40 years of
growth, can provide a substantial input to meet our needs for fuelwood bole and timber. The
associated industrial infrastructure for processing diverse by products of this tree can help to
generate employment for the rural masses. Since science and technology is vital for
substances of any venture, it is hoped that for raising the threshold for useful traits, research
efforts will be augmented appropriately.
This will go a long way in making neem oil permanently commercially viable and
environment friendly commodity.