Meeting challenges in farming suggestions offered by Neem tree owner farmers to Popularise Neem-an Indian perspective

Neem is accredited today as an ecological alternative to many unhealthy practices followed by farmers. With input intensive farming adversities like pest resurgences, disease incidences and crop losses are escalating. The Role of neem is well established and it has much to offer in solving global agricultural, environmental and public health problems. The natural products of neem do not have any toxic reactions, so they are helpful in plant protection and eco-friendly management for sustainable agricultural development. Neem oil, neem fruit and its different by-products make efficient biopesticides, fungicides and organic manures. These products can help to construct a sustainable agricultural backbone for low-income group and developing countries with reasonably lower costs and ecological damages. In past many efforts have been undertaken by agricultural scientists to encourage such organic alternative neem based products among farmers for the control of various harmful pests. The present study was aimed to understand the extent of usage of neem based biopesticides by practising farmers and suggestions offered by neem tree owner farmers to popularise neem as system for meeting challenges in farming and presenting it as an Indian perspective. The most important suggestions given by neem tree owner farmers to popularize neem in agriculture in order of their importance were; create awareness about ill effects of chemical pesticides right from school level, need to give proper advertisement for various commercial formulations made of neem, need to promote environment friendly pest control measures etc.