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Neem
Introduction - Commercial
Uses Of Neem
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Almost every part of the neem tree viz. roots, leaves, flowers, seeds, trunks and branches has multiple uses. Neem is not only an excellent source of pesticides, it also provides good animal feed, fuel and timber. |
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Examples
of uses
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Timber
The sapwood of neem tree is greyish white, while the heartwood is reddish brown. The wood is aromatic. Neem wood is not very lustrous, but is easily sawn. It seasons well when it is sawn still wet. It can be worked both by hand and by machines. It does not take polish well. Neem timber is durable even in extended exposed conditions. In addition, it is resistant to termites and woodworms. Neem wood has long been used as firewood and charcoal made from neem wood is of excellent quality. |
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Bark
Neem bark contains tannins that are used in tanning, dyeing etc. Compounds extracted from neem bark are used in production of some dental-care products like toothpaste etc. |
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Seed
Neem seed pulp is useful for methane gas production. It is also useful as carbohydrate that is rich base for other industrial fermentation. |
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Leaves
Neem leaves possess excellent medicinal properties. In addition to its usefulness in pest management and disease control they can also be fed to livestock when mixed with other animal feed. Neem leaves are used in some parts of India as fertilizer in rice fields, especially in the southern states of India. In some countries, neem leaves are used as mulch in tobacco and tomato fields. They can be very effectively used to kill weeds by spreading them over plant roots to retain moisture. Neem leaves can also be used to protect stored woollen and silk clothes from insects. |
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Neem
cake
Neem cake is versatile and has many uses. It can be used as livestock feed, fertiliser and natural pesticide. It not only provides organic nitrogen but also inhibits the nitrification
process,
when mixed |
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Download
Brochure |
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with urea, before applying in the fields. Such use of the neem coated urea in 90:10 proportion can save up to 30% of the total chemical nitrogen requirement of the crops that results in cost reductions of agricultural production. Neem cake is widely used in India as fertiliser for sugarcane, vegetables and other cash crops. Neem cake also acts as natural pesticide when added to soil, which protects plant roots from soil-insects and nematodes. |
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Neem
oil
The most common use of neem oil is for soap production for conomical reasons. If it is properly used for soap production to harness its general hygiene properties, the resulted product can be of great health use. Such medicated soaps with neem odour are proved to have very effective anti-germ properties. Neem oil also is also used in the manufacture of dog soaps and shampoo that control ticks, fleas, and lice. In Germany, it is used in herbal hair oil, hair tonic, and nail oil. |
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Other
applications
Neem is becoming a popular beauty aid. Some companies are using neem oil and leaves for production of cosmetics like facial creams, nail polishes, nail oils, shampoos and conditioners etc. Furthermore, neem oil is also a very effective mosquito repellent. Cattle leaf supplements containing neem leaf powder are worm killers. Creams containing neem oil can be used for healing animal wounds. In Kenya, rural farming households have found in neem an inexpensive way to protect the native chicken from the dreaded New Castle virus disease. |
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