For several years the Neem Foundation tried to impress Government Agencies and Funding Bodies to evolve a National Plan and moot an integrated Project to highlight the vast potential of the Neem tree.

While everybody agreed in principal to support an integrated model project for optimum utilization of neem, the formalities and norms made it difficult to actually make it happen.


Like so many other worthy causes the Neem tree seemed to be a victim of red tapism!

That was till the NOVOD Board took determined action to focus its attention and resources to promote utilization of Neem seeds along with another important national resource - mango kernel.

The National Oilseeds & Vegetable Oils Development Board is a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, entrusted with the Integrated Development of Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Industry in India. Besides cultivated nine annual oilseeds, this Board has been entrusted with the nodal responsibility for Integrated Development of Tree-Borne Oilseeds including Neem. To coordinate all the Research and development activities relating to TBOs, Ministry of Agriculture has also constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising of all the concerned Departments / Ministries / Organisations including Ministry of Industry under the chairmanship of the Special Secretary & Director (TMOP).

NOVOD Board has been entrusted with nodal responsibility for integrated development of TBOs encompassing with seed collection, processing, marketing, storage, nursery, plantation and training & awareness etc. The Board has stressed upon utilisation of neem seeds and mango kernel by creating general awareness and publicity for quality collection and plantation on a larger scale under wastelands and degraded lands etc.

The requirement of quality planting material for large -scale plantation of neem, was discussed during the Trainers Training Programme organised by NOVOD Board. Subsequently gap areas / research needs were identified by a Group of Scientists from CSIR, ICAR, ICFRE and action plan was finalised and reviewed. Subsequently, the consolidated proposal was scrutinized by the Project Appraisal Committee. It was strongly felt that India should lead in identifying its natural resources, range of variation in its bio-diversity and make available quality planting material for plantation on wastelands available in the country. Need of a good data base was also identified by the scientists in the above mentioned meetings. This data base is required to safeguard our inherent property, bio-diversity and provide necessary inputs to industry and developmental institutions.

The highlights of the National Network for Integrated Development of Neem are cataloguing of all eco tyes / collections from India, database on Neem / R&D for tree improvement and training programmes for beneficiaries. The programme also provides for market intervention in seed collection and networking of neem seed extractors and processors.

The following are the participating Institutes and NGOs

FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
DEHRADUN. U.P.
(FRI)

TROPICAL FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE JABALPUR.
(TFRI)

ARID FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
JODHPUR.
(AFRI)

INSTITUTE OF FOREST GENETICS AND TREE BREEDING
COIMBATORE
(IFGTB)

CENTRAL ARID ZONE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, JODHPUR (CAZRI)

NATIONAL BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
LUCKNOW
(NBRI)

C.C.S. HARYANA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
HISAR
(HAU)

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NEW DEHI
(IIT)

NATIONAL BUREAU OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
NEW DELHI
(NBPGR)

TATA ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
NEW DELHI
(TERI)

NEEM FOUNDATION
MUMBAI
(NF)

The collection will be supplemented with all necessary observations of the seeds / trees to make a national inventory. This data will be supplemented with climatic & geographical informations by the above eight participating institutions.

The collections will be supplemented with phenological observations of the seeds and the trees. This will assist in making a national inventory.

All collections will be sent to NBPGR for accession. This will ensure a record of national bio-diversity of neem in the country.

The selection will be sent to two central facilities (TERI & NBRI) for analysis of chemical parameters such as oil, fatty acids, azadirachtin etc. This will provide a complete range of resource assessment of neem in the country. The data thus generated will assist other
centres for tree improvement work.

The agro-forestry models would be perfected to make the neem plantation economically viable. Various
models will be experimented depending upon the local conditions by FRI, AFRI, IFGTB, CAZRI, NBRI, HAU & NF.

It is planned to develop a national data base through NBRI on neem research, information, market and resource availability in the country.

The post harvest technological tools like depulper, decorticators, dehuller and extraction etc. would be developed by IIT. This will optimize quality of seed collection and extraction of oil and other products.

Neem Foundation will take leading role in developing packages, booklets, news letters and training programmes in consultation with NOVOD Board.

All the institutions would be associated in organizing training programmes for field functionaries.

A national seminar has been proposed to identify the resources, needs and opportunities.

Liaison with industry has been identified as a crucial activity.

For utilization of existing potential for oil, pesticides and bio-pesticides, a interlinked programme would be formulated with KVIC, TRIFED, OILFED etc.

The Neem Foundation is deeply proud to be a part of this national effort and congratulates NOVOD Board for taking this decisive step.