Govt to set up theme parks on neem tree

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) New theme parks on neem will be established in different parts of the country to promote the use of pesticides based on the tree whose multiple uses are known to man since centuries.

These parks would act as centres of learning for farmers and provide technical back up and material for promoting agro-based products for sustainable eco-friendly agriculture.

Asom, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and the North Eastern states have been chosen for creating these parks.

This was announced by the Department of Chemicals and petrochemicals at the launch of the phase II of the Neem project.

Speaking on the occasion, the secretary Satwant Reddy said neem based pesticides will be promoted as a cost effective eco-friendly biodegradable alternative to chemical pesticides.

She said, transfer of user friendly technology on the use of neem, management of pesticide residues in plantation crops like tea, coffee and spices and bringing about wasteland development through plantation of neem would be objectives of the second phase of the project.

The programme will also cover training of extension workers, farmers and agro industry personnel in the use of the technology.

Organisation of cooperatives for Neem seed collection and distribution at the village and Block level, holding field demonstrations on different crops for wider coverage and acceptance and establishment of small processing units near Neem seed collection centres will be some of the other activities in this phase, she said.

Earlier inaugurating an international seminar on the occasion Minister for Environment and Forests A Raja said, Joint Forest Management Committees in the forest- fringe villages could be involved in promoting plantation of neem trees.

He said, the committees provide unique opportunity not only for large scale planting of neem trees, but also for scientific harvesting of neem produce, their value addition and marketing.

The Minister said, good fieldwork carried out under the first phase of the Neem pesticides programme had generated a great degree of interest about the uses of neem as pesticide amongst farmers in the country.

Besides senior government officials, experts from various fields including scientific and academic institutions, research institutes, Non Government Organisations, representatives from pesticide industry and entrepreneurs participated in the seminar.

Representatives from China, Thailand and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNI