Neem in Sustainable Agriculture

Book excerpt: Neem is a versatile tree of Indian origin. Since ancient times, its various plant parts have been used to control domestic insects, stored grain pests, crop pests and for human and livestock medicine. Recently, these properties have been attributed to hundreds of chemicals present in this Golden tree. Being a storehouse of chemicals, with multiple uses and adaptability to diverse habitats and climatic conditions, the developed countries have been shown keen interest in this tree. Besides, the present day pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers pose several problems viz., environmental pollution and related health hazards in human and livestock insects. While neem chemicals have shown potential as pesticides and as nitrification inhibitors and do not pose these problems, moreover, neemcake is used as manure. This book will be most useful to neem scientists working in agriculture and forestry and to environmental conscious farmers of developed countries and to the educated farmers of Third World countries intending to practice Sustainable Agriculture.