Forest Research Institute (FRI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO] under which, FRI will come up with fast-growing and high-yielding varieties of neem trees that will be utilised to meet the requirement to produce 100 per cent neem-coated urea.
A jubilant MD of IFFCO Dr U S Awasthi who is currently on tour to Belarus tweeted “ Glad 2 share dat #IFFCO & #ForestResearchInstitute,#Dehradun jointly initiated a #R&D project on #Neem.Work on seed & oil quality of #Neem.”
Neem-coated urea maintains soil health and works as insect-pest repellent and the NDA government including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been insisting on its increased use.
IFFCO’s Director Pramod Kumar Singh signed the MoU 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 pay Rs 93 lakh to the FRI for this three-year project.
The Facebook page of Pramod Kumar Singh who is also the Chief of Dehradun ICM is pasted with numerous 
photographs of the signing ceremony even as the fertilizer sector is abuzz with IFFCO’s decisive move to go in for neem-coated urea in a big way.
Later talking to Indian Cooperative Pramod Singh said the neem-coated urea enhances yield of crops by increasing nitrogen use efficiency through its slow-releasing process, lesser infestation of insects and even works to repel blue bulls.
FRI Director Dr Savita said 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.
