The Neem Tree The neem tree (
Azadirachta indica) is fast becoming popular in the Philippines as a natural
insecticide, especially against the
mosquito.
People believe incorrectly that neem trees
repel mosquitoes. The tree itself does not repel mosquitoes, it is the
crushed fresh leaves or neem
powder.
The most
potent insect
repellent product
derived from neem is the seed oil. The seed oil contains the
compound azadirachtin that repels insects and
nematodes. Furthermore, it acts as an
antifeedant and disrupts the
life stages of various insects.
In fact, desert locusts will starve to death before eating plants
treated with neem
extract.
Neem seed consists of 40% oil. This oil can be used for many
purposes, such as
lubricant for machinery,
pharmaceutical and
cosmetic products, and as a natural insecticide.
In addition, the neem cake that is left over after
extracting the oil from the seeds makes a good fertilizer.
The
bark of the neem tree contains 12-14%
tannins. This compares favorably with the amount of tannins existing in
conventional tanning chemicals, so neem bark can also be used in tanning
leather.
In parts of the Philippines, the most important use of neem is for
reforestation. It is fast growing and drought resistant. Its
sturdy trunk and branches help it
withstand typhoons and the
lumber is of high quality. Moreover, it resists
decay and insect attacks and is stronger than
teak (
Tectona grandis).
Neem wood is excellent for construction and furniture. The hard wood is
brownish while the soft wood is lighter. Young branches are
yellowish.
Neem trees bear fruit at 4-5 years of age. The seeds have a short
viability (2-3 weeks).
They can be sown directly in the field or in a bag with similar success.
The tree produces plenty of
root runners that can also be used for
propagation.
Neem is useful in urban areas because of its
dense foliage,
shade, and
attractive, tiny white flowers and yellow fruit. However, it should not be planted close to
infrastructure since the tree develops a
massive root system that has been known to damage concrete.
by Calixto E. Yao in 'The Small Farm Newsletter' Fall 1995