Status Report on Global Neem Usage - Gtz

SUMMARYIndeed, neem has been effective in animal husbandry where it has been applied in thetreatment of ectoparasites such as ticks.The main problems hindering greater acceptance of neem by farmers include poor disseminationof neem-related knowledge and the fact that farmers have no access to neem eitheras raw material or ready-to use products. E.g. in those regions such as vegetable growingareas in which neem could be used successfully, there are not enough trees or none at all.Another important reason is the lack of funds for the often small neem manufacturing companiesto invest in professional marketing and distribution strategies.This document presents more than 120 projects, organisations, institutions and microindustriesand companies in 58 countries that are working on neem. The most importantactivities when working with neem in this context are to disseminate both the tree itself andknowledge of its potential uses, in particular as a non-synthetic pesticide.India, Myanmar, Thailand, Kenya and the Dominican Republic are cited as examples of theway in which neem can be successfully propagated and used as a pesticide.Those areas suffering from erosion could be reafforested with neem trees and given thetree’s many possible uses, villages could set up micro-industries which would help improvethe income situation in rural areas. In addition to using the seeds as a raw material for themanufacture of pesticides, soaps, fertilisers etc., the wood from the tree can be used for constructionand fuel and the leaves for medical, cosmetic and agricultural purposes.By referring to main references on neem, proceedings of conferences and workshops as wellas publications of GTZ staff and the work conducted in a number of industrialised countries,the report then goes on to show just how vital and promising biological, non-syntheticpesticides are for the future.5