Role of Neem in Organic Farming

RamanjaneyuluCentre for Sustainable Agriculture

International Conference on Neem

Neem in India

• Grows in the plains and in areas that reach an elevation of about 1850m

• Tolerant to most soil types including dry, stony, shallow soils, lateritic crusts, highly leached sands and clays

• With an extensive and deep-rooted system, the hardy Neem can grow and flourish even in poor, marginal and leached soils

• The Neem tree flowers between February and May. The honey-scented white flowers, found in clusters are a good source of nectar for bees

• Neem fruits are green drupes that turn golden yellow on ripening in the month of June July and August in India.

Neem as fertiliser• Neem seed, cake and leaves can be used as fertilisers• Neem Cake has an adequate quantity of NPK in organic form for plant growth• Contains

– N(Nitrogen 2.0% to 5.0%)– P(Phosphorus 0.5% to 1.0%)– K(Potassium 1.0% to 2.0%)– Ca(Calcium 0.5% to 3.0%)– Mg(Magnesium 0.3% to 1.0%),– S(Sulphur 0.2% to 3.0%)– Zn(Zinc 15 ppm to 60 ppm)– Cu(Copper 4 ppm to 20 ppm)– Fe (Iron 500 ppm to 1200 ppm)– Mn (Manganese 20 ppm to 60 ppm)– It is rich in both sulphur compounds and bitter limonoids.

• Neem seed cake also has the capacity to reduce alkalinity in the soil by producing organic acids which help in removing the alkalinity of the soil

• The calcium and magnesium in the neem cake also aid in removing alkalinity

• Being totally natural, it is compatible with soil microbes, improves and rhizosphere microflora and hence ensures fertility of the soil

• Neem Cake improves the organic matter content of the soil, helping improve soil texture, water holding capacity, and soil aeration for better root development.

Neem: Denitrificator• The oxidation of ammonium (NH4

+) to nitrate (NO3-) in the microbially mediated

process of nitrification has long been recognised as a key nitrogen transformation process in soil–plant systems

• Several reports show impact of nitrification on other N-transformation processes such as NO3

-leaching and reduction of NO3_ to gaseous N compounds

(denitrification) that can reduce the availability of N for crop production• The impact of the nitrification process itself and subsequent reduction of NO3

_ on the release of nitrous oxide to the atmosphere, a key greenhouse gas, has also been widely studied

• Better timing of fertiliser N, splitting of N inputs and use of chemicals to block nitrification in soils are strategies that have been advocated to reduce N losses.

• Meliacin in neem blocks soil bacteria from converting nitrogenous compounds into nitrogen gas (acts as a nitrification inhibitor) thereby prolongs the availability of nitrogen to both short duration and long duration crops

Soil pest management

• Neem cake organic manure protects plant roots from nematodes, soil grubs and white ants probably due to its residual limonoid content

• Neem cake is widely used in India to fertilize paddy, cotton and sugarcane

Neem in pest management

• Neem extracts can influence nearly 200 species of insects

• Some of these pests are resistant to pesticides, or are inherently difficult to control with conventional pesticides (floral thrips, diamond back moth and several leaf miners).

Neem biological impacts• Insect growth regulation: Azadirachtin has a unique property of working on

juvenile hormone. The insect larva feeds and when it grows, it sheds the old skin and again starts growing (ecdysis or moulting) which is governed by an enzyme called ecdysone. When the Azadirachtin enter the body of larvae, the activity of the ecdysone is suppressed and the larva fails to moult, remains in the larval stage and ultimately dies. If the larva escapes this stage due to sublethal dose, it would be malformed/sterile in the pupal or adult stage.

• Feeding deterrent: The most important property of neem is feeding deterrence. The Azadirachtin, Salanin and Melandriol create a vomiting sensation in the insect body which prevents them eating. Sometimes, the swallowing is also blocked.

• Oviposition deterrent: Prevents female insects from depositing eggs. When the seeds or grains are treated with neem seed kernel extract or neem oil, the insect will not feed on them and when female comes to the egg laying period of its life cycle, egg laying is prevented.

• formation of chitin (exoskeleton) is inhibited• Mating as well as sexual communication is disrupted• Larvae and adults of insects are repelled• Adults are sterilised• Larvae and adults are poisoned.

Preparation of Neem Seed Kernal Extract

Soak 5 kg neem kernal from shade dried fruitsin 10 lit of water for 4 hrs

Ground neem kernals to paste and tie in a piece of cloth and soaked in water

Squeeze to extract the solution for 15-20 min

Strain the milk like extract and add 100 g detergent powder

Dilute the solution in 100 l of water to spray for one acre

10 to 15 kg shade dried fruit powder can also be used

Effect of Neem Seed Kernal Extract on Spodoptera larva

Neem use against different pests• Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, etc): Neem products act as antifeedants.

Several species of these insects refuse to feed on these plants treated with neem for several days to several weeks. Recently it has also been discovered that neem products convert the gregarious swarms of locusts to solitary forms.

• Homoptera (Cicadas, Aphids, Scale insects, leafhoppers, etc): In leaf hoppers and plant hoppers neem products show considerable antifeedant and growth regulating effects. Scale insects are not much affected. In some cases, the host plant may influence the degree of control; this seems to apply to some whiteflies. The ability of certain homopterous insects to carry and transmit viruses are also influenced by neem products. Low doses prevent the green rice leaf hopper from infecting rice fields with tungro virus

• Thysanoptera (Thrips): Neem products are very effective in controlling thrips larvae which are found in the soil. Their effect is moderate when used on adult thrips and related pests found on plants. Neem oil is more effective as it suffocates these tiny creatures.

• Coleoptera (Beetles and weevils): Larvae of all kinds of beetles refuse to feed on plants treated with neem. Their growth is retarted and some soft skinned ones are killed on contact.

• Lepidoptera (Moths, skippers, millers and butterflies): neem products act

as growth deterrents in the case of the larvae of most lepidopterous pests. They also act as anti-feedant.

• Diptera (Flies): Insects like fruit flies, face flies, bot flies, house flies and

horn flies are affected by neem products. • Hymenoptera (Bees, wasps, sawflies, ants etc): larvae of sawflies exhibit

the antifeedant and growth regulatory effects. • Heteroptera (bugs): Neem products exhibit antifeedant and growth

retardant properties on bugs like rice bugs etc and vegetable bugs.

• Plant viruses: besides insecticidal properties, neem is also a promising agent for control of plant diseases. Neem oil in combination with paraffin oil reduces the incidence of Yellow Vein Mosaiv (YVM) of okra, yellow mosaic of grain legumes and leaf curl of chillies. Neem oil and custard apple oil will interfere with transmission of rice tungro virus. Neem leaf extracts have shown to reduce transmission of tobacco mosaic virus which is a serious pest of vegetable crops.

• • Fungi: neem exhibits antifungal properties. It prevents powdery

mildew when sprayed before the outbreak of the disease. When treated with neem, Aspergillus flavus do not produce aflotoxins.

Commnity Managed Sustainable Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh 2004-05 started with 225 acres in one dist and

reached 7 lakh acres in 2007-08 in 18 dist. today the prog covers 20 lakh acres in 18 dist

World Bank says this is a good tool for poverty eradication

With 50 % development expenditure one can double the incomes of the farmers

2004

2009

2006

…aiming to reach 100 lakh acres across crops in all districts of AP in by 2014

225 25000 200000 700000

1300000

2000000

2800000

3500000

100 15000 80000300000

6000001000000

15000002000000

0500000

1000000150000020000002500000300000035000004000000

Acerage

Farmers

Farmers and area covered under CMSA

pilot

CSA handholding support

NGOs technical support at field level

SHG groups ind. handling

RKVY funds

* Planned intervertion

MKSP funds

Pesticide use in Indian States(in Metric tons)

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-100

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

19971394 1541 1381 1015

2700 2670 2660 2650 27503198 3193 3050

2400

46395610 5975 6080 5760 58106671

7414 7332

89689563

Andhra PradeshGujaratMaharashtraPunjabUttar Pradesh

Economics from 10 locations of CSA work

Crop Cost of cultivation

(Rs/Ac.)Yield (Q/Ac.)

Gross Returns (Rs.) Net returns (Rs.)

Organic Non-Organic Organic Non-

Organic Organic Non-Organic Organic Non-

OrganicPaddy 11950 14340 32 32.2 29340 29630 17390 15370

Maize 7922 8314 21.8 19.6 19620 17640 11698 9326

Groundnut

9270 10340 9.8 9.8 24500 24500 15230 14160

Bengalgram

4800 5650 5.5 6.5 11270 12300 6475 6650

Chilli 48918 72237 24.5 26.5 147000 117000 98082 47013

Onion 13200 15400 71.6 67.6 28800 26000 15600 10600

Cotton 10980 10380 4.5 4 13500 11600 2520 1220

Annual reports of CSA from 10 locations each having 5 villages 2008-2012

Average Reduction in costs and net additional income for different crops

Crops Reduction in cost due to NPM (Rs)

Reduction in costs due to use of organic fertilisers/manures (Rs)

Net additional income (Rs)

Paddy 940 1450 5590

Maize 1319 2357 5676

Cotton 1733 1968 5676

Chillies 1733 1968 7701

Groundnut 1021 3462 10483

Vegetables 1400 390 3790

3rd Party Evaluation of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) : Community Managed Organic Farmingimplemented by SERPEvaluation TeamProf. R. Ratnakar, Director, Dr. M. Surya Mani, Professor, EXTENSION EDUCATION INSTITUTE, (Southern Region), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India

Evaluation Report – ANGRAU

• Third party evaluation commissioned by Department of Agril for RKVY

• Study conducted in 18 districts funded by RKVY

• Proportionate Random sampling method was used

• Study conducted in 24 Mandals, 62 clusters, 320 villages

• 3200 farmers, 10 farmers from each sample village

Reduction of Costs and Yield Costs District Crop Reductio

n in Pesticides

Reduction in chemical

Net amount saved of

NPM Net Amount saved / ac

Yield / acre

Increased in yield

1. Kadapa Paddy 100% 50% 544 508 21.0 2.0

2. Chittor Paddy 100% 50% 390 440 26 2.5

3. Paddy 100% 50% 1200 246 21 2.5

4. Vizag Paddy 100% 50% 1200 1048 24 2

Maize 100% 50% 1300 1080 24 2

5. Paddy 100% 50% 1100 1949 24 2

Maize 100% 50% 1300 1825

6. Medak Paddy 100% 50% 1400 646 22 1

Maize 100% 50% 1200 1052 23 1

Jower 100% 50% 1200 668 14 1

7. Karimnagar Paddy 100% 50% 1100 896 22 2

Cotton 100% 50% 1500 1686 11 1

8. Nizamabad Paddy 100% 50% 950 1690 23 1

9. Khammam Paddy 100% 50% 550 1051 21 2

Chilies 100% 50% 650 1021 21 2

Reduction of Costs and Yield, Costs 10. Adilabad Paddy 100% 50% 450 508 15 16

11. Vizianagara

m

Paddy 100% 50% 940 1629 19 2

12. Srikakulam Paddy 100% 50% 820 1230 22 1

13. Paddy 100% 50% 1100 800 22 1

14. Ananthapur Paddy 100% 50% 940 900 19 2

Groundnut 100% 50% 820 1200 6 1

15. Ranga

Reddy

Paddy 100% 50% 1100 1010 23 2

16. Mahaboobn

agar

Paddy 100% 50% 948 720 22 2

17. Nalgonda Paddy 100% 50% 856 896 22 2

18. Paddy 100% 50% 958 896 22 2

Cotton 100% 50% 1240 1780 11 1

General Observations – ANGRAU • The crops viz paddy, Chillys, vegetables etc are very healthy • In case of POP activities beneficiaries earned upto

Rs.40,000/- from ½ acre • Farmers who practiced Palekar models felt happy for the

benefits derived by them • The lands allocated to POP beneficiaries were enthusiastic to

cultivate SRI and NPM methods• In some of the sample villages farmers were earning Rs.1000

per month through NPM shop• In Sunflower and horse grams seed setting were good with

NPM practices • FFS farmers are practicing AESA and decision making based

on field observations

• Red gram introduced as an inter crop in soya bean fields, due to which beneficiary organisms were observed in the field

• Information materials about NPM practices were very good

• Wall writings with pictures are very impressive

• Majority of the beneficiaries shifted from Monocropping to Mixed farming

• There was yield increase about 1-2qtls in different crops

• Increase in Nutritional status and livelihoods observed

Study Report by Pragna Consultancy

Cost incurred on Fertilizer and Pesticide usage in PADDY crop during Post CMSA –NPM compared to Pre CMSA & and Non NPM fields (in

Rs./ha.)

25

District Material Pre CMSA Post CMSA NPM Post CMSA Non NPM

Kharif Rabi Kharif Rabi Kharif Rabi

Srikakulam Fertilizers 1543.00 1428.00 1120.50(44.55)

980.43(49.21)

2514.90 1992.00

Plant Protection

1235.95 1300.00 986.00(43.91)

772.00(35.99)

2245.00 2145.00

Guntur Fertilizers 2863.50 - 1888.00(47.58)

- 3968.00 -

Plant Protection

1480.56 - 949.18(29.09)

- 3261.90 -

Nellore Fertilizers 2104.00 2312.00 1868.70(48.68)

1781.15(49.69)

3838.60 3584.00

Plant protection

2369.00 2095.00 918.88(28.86)

1068.00(33.24)

3182.90 3212.10

Cost incurred on Fertilizer and Pesticide usage in CHILLY crop during Post CMSA –NPM compared to Pre CMSA & and Non NPM fields (in

Rs./ha.)

26

District Material Pre CMSA

Post CMSA NPM Post CMSA Non NPM

Guntur Fertilizers 3720.00 2867.00(68.26)

4200.00

Plant Protection

12000.00 4224(23.20)

18200.00

Irrigation 4482.00 8470.00(85.04)

9960.00

Cost incurred on Fertilizer and Pesticide usage in COTTON crop during Post CMSA –NPM compared to Pre CMSA & and Non NPM fields (in

Rs./ha.)

27

District Material Pre CMSA Post CMSA NPM Post CMSA Non NPM

Guntur Fertilizers 3486.00 3392.80(94.62)

3585.60

Plant Protection 7723.00 5431.04(51.43)

10560.00

Warangal Fertilizers 2120.00 2472.00(95.44)

2590.00

Plant Protection 6225.00 5260.92(53.03)

9920.00

WarangalGuntur

Yield & Income Measures of Paddy Crop

Yield and Income Pre CMSAPost CMSA NPM Post CMSA Non

NPM

Kharif Kharif

Total Cost of Cultivation 19300.73 25527.64 33675.65

Physical Yield Unit Main Product (in Quintals) 54.78 65.96 65.95

Rate Rs Unit Main Product 722.30 1073.00 1053.00

Total Returns Main Product 39567.59 70775.08 69445.35

Total Returns By Product 2000.00 3750.00 3750.00

Gross Returns 41567.59 74525.08 73195.35

Net Returns 22266.86 48997.44 39519.70

Particulars NPM Non-NPM

Benefit Cost Ratio 2.92:1 2.17:1

Profitability 65.75% 53.99% 28

Yield & Income Measures of Chilly

Yield and Income Pre CMSA Post CMSA NPM Post CMSA Non NPM

Total Cost of Cultivation 51528.80 64649.38 83333.25

Physical Yield Unit Main Product (in Quintals) 31.13 45.00 44.82

Rate Rs Unit Main Product 2875.00 4200.00 4200.00

Total Returns Main Product 89498.75 189000.00 188244.00

Total Returns By Product 0.00 0.00 0.00

Gross Returns 89498.75 189000.00 188244.00

Net Returns 37969.95 124350.62 104910.75

Particulars NPM Non-NPMBenefit Cost Ratio 2.92:1 2.26:1Profitability 65.79% 55.73% 29

Yield & Income Measures of Cotton

Yield and Income Pre CMSA Post CMSA NPM Post CMSA Non NPM

Total Cost of Cultivation 29598.50 38269.84 42711.60

Physical Yield Unit Main Product(in Quintals) 28.63 32.00 31.37

Rate Rs Unit Main Product 2700.00 3500.00 3500.00

Total Returns Main Product 77301.00 112000.00 109795.00

Total Returns By Product 0.00 0.00 0.00

Gross Returns 77301.00 112000.00 109795.00

Net Returns 47702.50 73730.16 67083.40

Particulars NPM Non-NPMBenefit Cost Ratio 2.93:1 2.57:1Profitability 65.83% 61.10%

30

Improved Agricultural Incomes (Pre CMSA Compared to Post CMSA farms)

Average Returns: District wise/ Farmer/ha.:

S.No District

Average returns per farmer/ha. (Rs. per annum) Percent of Increase in

Net Returns (in %)Pre-CMSA Post-CMSA

1 Srikakulam 52,398. 80 55,596.84 6.10

2 Guntur 29,631.43 65,319.97 120

3 Nellore 37,976.19 72,894.48 91.94

4 Anantapur 15,333.54 25,493.16 66.25

5 Warangal 51,351.39 73,904.52 43.91

6 Medak 35.511.10 37,962.04 6.90

31

Note: A huge increase is observed in Guntur district due to the fact that the Chilly crop has had a high remunerative price which has more than doubled.

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