Tuesday, 10 DECEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Forest Research Institute (FRI) signed a non-exclusive license agreement with various firms to commercially multiply released varieties of Melia dubia (Malabar neem) and Neem. The license agreement was signed by FRI director Renu Singh, and representatives of three multiplication firms.
FRI has been one of the pioneering research institutes of India involved in developing and releasing tree varieties for faster returns through agroforestry. In this endeavour, ten varieties of Malabar Neem were released by FRI through the Central government. The efforts of FRI are expected to contribute substantially in the supply of quality planting stock of tree species grown by the farmers in their farmlands along with agriculture crops. Similarly, six released cultivars of neem were released with an ability to flower and fruit at an early age of two to three years, which usually happens after six years or more. Once planted commercially, the released cultivars are expected to play an important role in bridging massive gap existing between demand and supply of neem oil. It is pertinent to mention that the demand for neem oil increased substantially after the Central government’s decision in 2015 to produce 100 per cent neem coated urea. The research was necessitated as present availability of about 3,000 tonnes of neem oil is just sufficient to coat about 15 to 20 per cent urea produced in India. It was in this direction that IFFCO had roped in FRI to develop high neem oil and azadirachtin producing cultivars.
