Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India
Online published on 3 November, 2011.
Neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss) has been closely associated with the socio-cultural and religious aspects of Indian life since ancient times. It is used for various purposes in India and elsewhere. The use of neem for the protection of stored grains and woollen clothes is an age-old practice in India. India has 14 million neem trees, the largest in the world; producing annually 4,13,000 tons of dry fruits which in turn yield 83,000 tons of neem oil and 3,30,000 tons of neem cake. Presently, neem oil is mostly used for soap making while neem cake is used in manures and cattlefeeds. In view of Indian potential and infrastructural facilities, and scientifically proven medicinal, pesticidal and other uses of neem, it has become necessary to exploit it in an integrated manner for its most economical utilization. The availability of technology for neem insecticide and the registration for insect control use have placed neem at a take-off stage for its use on a large scale in India and elsewhere to alternate and/or replace synthetic insecticides to the extent possible in integrated pest management. This paper discusses latest developments in neem science, and suggests greater need of standardization of neem formulations by using biological standards for their successful utilization in insect pest management.
