It is not for nothing that the Neem tree in Indian culture has been ranked higher than ‘Kalpavriksha’, the mythological wish-fulfilling tree. In ‘ Sharh-e-Mufridat Al-Qanoon”, neem has been named as ‘Shajar-e-Mubarak’, ‘the blessed tree’, because of its highly beneficial properties.

According to Chairman Dr. R.C. Saxena- Even a highly conservative estimate of the ‘environmental service’ rendered by the tree @ US $ 10 per month, would give an astonishing value of US $ 24,000 to 36,000 in its life time. Other economic uses of neem and the benefits derived, such as biomass production, timber, seed, and honey, are more tangible and quantifiable.

Think………. a small Neem seed planted by you today will continue to purify the air of pollutants and noxious elements for the next 250 years. It will also improve the fertility of the soil for the next two centuries and more!!!

We are sure the message from the heart sent by Mrs. Jaya Bachchan will inspire and add to the numbers of Neem Trees in India. Read it and spread the word. Plant with the belief that each Neem tree planted provides a lifetime of health insurance for the young children of this Country.

‘Greening India with Neem’ is a dream that has to be lived! Achieving the goal would be highly enriching both for the individual who plants it as well as the land. Read all about it in this issue. Also featured in the pages are the news snippets on Neem on a variety of issues, each one confirming the benefits and the value of this amazing tree.

A scientific study done by Dr. A.S. Gill of Inidan Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi concludes that the Neem tree has the greatest potential under rain fed condition in the agroforestry system.
(Details of the study – Pg 12)

Therefore, the message of the Neem movement to the world is don’t discover the Neem, then synthesize its actives and decipher its constituents, then setup labs and factories to manufacture products that mimic its phytochemicals.!!!........

…………….. The answer lies in planting the tree and processing its harvest in the very villages where it grows.
PThakkar
PThakkar