AGARTALA, Nov 1 (TIWN): Tripura is assigned to conduct firm level experiment of the effectiveness of Neem extracts as bio-pesticide and bio-fertilizer, said head of Tripura Bio-Technology Anjan Sengupta.
He said Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT) of Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizer has entrusted Tripura Bio Technology department and Tea Research Institute to experiment on Neem for next three years.

The project is aimed to ascertain the variation of effects in regard to agro-climatic zones and specification of corps. The project formulated to determine the variation of effects in two different matrixes.

How the same dose in specific bio-synergist varies in result in different agro-climatic condition and what would be the best bio-synergy for specific crops and firm production in different environment, Sengupta stated.

IPFT identified three plots - Gurgoan in Haryana at extreme climate events are occurred and Tea Research Institute has developed another plot at Nagarkata in West Bengal with moderate climate events and Debendranagar of Tripura with low climate events for field experiments.

“A number of companies packaging Neem extract as organic pesticide and fertilizer for agriculture and horticulture but no data base of the practice of Neem products,” Sengupta argued.

Neem is the most commonly available organic component in India but the use of Neem is still very low and not sufficiently scientific. Moreover, because of insufficient research, Neem products are getting branded by some commercial enterprise in spite of its availability to each and every farmer.

“The project is an initiative to promote bio-firming at affordable resources even to the marginal farmers of India, which would ultimately reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. It is fact that we could not able to establish confidence of our farmers in large scale commercial production with organic method because still there is a myth, organic firming is costly and less productive but it is far from the truth,” Sengupta attributed.

IPFT assigned Tripura Bio-Technology department to go for firm experiment of Neem effects in a particular firm in with different vegetation to monitor the result for drawing conclusion for larger use of Neem in firm production, said head of the project Darchu Chakma.

He stated as per the agreement the dedicated project team will evaluate the effect of Neem in different concentration in the vegetable crops and also to see its variation in nutrient status.

Despite Neem based products are exports from India in large scale, still the use of Neem extract in Indian firm production is considerably low.

He claimed USA and Italy are the leading importers of Neem extracts from India. With USD 2.62 million imports in 2011-12, USA was the largest importer of India’s Neem extracts while Japan was appeared to be the largest importer of Neem oil cakes from India and Spain the largest importer of Neem seeds in last fiscal.