FRI, IFFCO sign pact on neem-coated urea

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24

The Forest Research Institute (FRI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), New Delhi, under which, FRI will come up with fast-growing and high-yielding varieties of neem trees that will be utilised to meet the requirement under the Central Government’s new directive to produce 100 per cent neem-coated urea.

Neem-coated urea maintains soil health and works as insect-pest repellent. IFFCO’s Director PK Singh signed the MoU on behalf of IFFCO while Dr Savita, Director, Forest Research Institute, signed it on the institute’s behalf. The IFFCO Director handed over a cheque of Rs 21 lakh to FRI as the first instalment. The IFFCO will, in all, pay Rs 93 lakh to the FRI for this three-year project.

Addressing mediapersons shortly after signing of the MoU, PK Singh said the Centre had recently decided to produce only neem-coated urea. He said neem-coated urea enhances yield of various crops by increasing nitrogen use efficiency through its slow-releasing process, lesser infestation of insects and even works to repel blue bulls. This, however, poses serious requirement of suitable neem seeds for extraction of oil so that huge requirement of fertiliser industries could be fulfilled.

FRI Director Dr Savita said under this project, scientists would aim to improve productivity in terms of seed and oil content. The scientists would provide genetically improved seed for plantation and develop micro and macro propagation techniques for mass multiplication of elite germplasm. She said neem was best known as an important medicinal tree and had anti-bacterial, anti-fungal as well as insecticidal properties.

FRI’s senior scientist Dr NSK Harsh and Dr Ashok Kumar were among those present on the occasion.