Paswan to launch Phase-II of Neem Project tomorrow

New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan will launch the Phase II of the Neem Projecthere tomorrow.

The project titled ''Production, Promotion of Neem-based Pesticides as Environment Friendly, Biodegradable Alternative to Chemical Pesticides'' has been initiated with financial support of the Central Government through the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.

In this phase, the issues to be addressed include management of pesticide residues in plantation crops such as tea, coffee and spices, the export of which is becoming increasingly difficult due to presence of persistent toxic chemicals. It will address the issue of management of pesticide residues in different parts of the country where dependence on chemical pesticides has increased.

This programme will also address the issue of cleaner production of quality Neem products with increased shelf life. It will lay emphasis on technology development with the aim to promote low cost production technology, which is commercially viable, environment friendly and helps poverty alleviation of the rural masses.

A simple low-cost technology for the preparation of Neem-based pesticides developed during the first phase of the programme has been successfully transferred to farmers at two places and has generated significant interest among the farming community. Neem sheds have been set up at two sites in West Bengal and Nagpur designed to become nodal centres for processing of Neem-based pesticides and disseminating information about Neem based products to farmers.

To mark the launching of the phase two of the programme, an international seminar has also been organised to bring together all stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, scientific and academic institutions, research institutes, pesticide industry and entrepreneurs. It will provide the platform for exchange of ideas, information and technologies, including plantation of Neem trees especially in degraded land which can result in tangible benefits to resource poor farmers and Indian farmers at large.

The seminar will be inaugurated by Minister for Environment and Forests A Raja.

UNI