Farmers to benefit from IFFCO's neem scheme

Good news for farmers. The country's largest fertilizer co-operative Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has come up with a scheme that will help farmers supplement their income.
The company will purchase fruit of neem, usually discarded as waste, at the rate of Rs 15 a kilo. Popularly known as nimori, farmers can visit any IFFCO office to sell neem fruits.
"This scheme will not only enhance farmers' income but also help in increasing awareness about organic fertilizers," an official said.
As the government has made it mandatory for fertiliser firms to produce neem-coated urea, the demand for neem extracts is expected to rise. The IFFCO has already planted over 1.5 lakh neem saplings.
Neem coated urea is eco-friendly, cost effective and has efficiency advantages. IFFCO also plans to process the fruit of neem to make agro-based products like oil and fertilizers.
IFFCO last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the Forest Research of India to conduct research and development of good neem species in the next three years.