The Hindu : Meet to focus on neem's potential

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 25, 2002

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National

Meet to focus on neem's potential

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI Oct. 24. Though India accounts for 50 per cent of all neem grown in the world, the tree's medical and cosmetic applications have remained under-utilised. It is in this context that the fourth world and the seventh international neem conference, to be held between November 27 and 30 at Mumbai, will meet to focus on neem's potential for sustainable development, the secretary-general of Neem Foundation, Pramila Thakkar, said.

At a press conference here, the foundation's general programme secretary, B.N. Vyas, said neem, used more in the agricultural sector, had the potential to develop into a Rs.2,000 crore industry. At present, it is a Rs.50 crore industry, of which exports account for Rs.20 crores. The country has over 20 million trees from which 300 tonnes of active ingredient could be got for use as pesticide. However, there were government restrictions on the sale of neem-coated urea.

Neem-based pesticides were treated on a par with chemical pesticides and attracted the same rate of excise duty. Neem-based pesticides formed Rs.15 crores of the Rs. 4,000 crore pesticide market. Pest control, genetic improvement, chemistry of seed composition, processing and product development, socio-economic aspects, regulation and patent-related issues, besides the 3,400-year-old history of neem would be discussed at the seminar.

The conference also aims to create awareness for growth of the industry in other sectors.

The meet will bring together government and non-government organisations, small, medium and large-scale industries, the Foundation steering committee member, S.S. Pillai, said.

Neem grows only in tropical regions like South and South East Asia and some countries in Latin America and Africa and hence the country's exports could include oil, leaf power and neem cake.

India had the largest number of neem trees though no efforts had been taken to cultivate it, Mr. Vyas said.

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