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Neem in Reforestation and Agroforestry

Neem is a very valuable forestry species in India and Africa and is also becoming popular in Tropical America, the middle east countries and in Australia.

Being a hardy, multipurpose tree, it is ideal for reforestation programs and for rehabilitating degraded, semiarid and arid lands. During a severe drought in Tamil Nadu State in June-July 1987, it was witnessed that neem grew luxuriantly, while other vegetation dried up.

Neem is useful as windbreaks and in areas of low rainfall and high windspeed. In the Majjia Valley in Niger, over 500 km of windbreaks comprised of double rows of neem trees have been planted to protect millet crops which resulted in a 20% increase in grain yield (Benge 1989).

Neem, windbreaks on a smaller scale have also been grown along sisal plantations in coastal Kenya. Large scale planting of neem has been initiated in the Kwimba Afforestation Scheme in Tanzania.

In countries from Somalia to Mauritiania, neem has been used for halting the spread of the Sahara desert. Also, neem is a preferred tree along avenues, in markets, and near homesteads because of the shade it provides. However, neem is best planted in mixed stands.

It was probably no coincidence that Emperor Ashoka, the great ruler of ancient India, in the 3rd century BC, commanded that the neem be planted along the royal highway and roads along with other perennials-tamarind, Tamarindus indica and mahua, Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia. Neem has all the good characters for various social forestry programs.

Neem is an excellent tree for silvipastoral system involving production of forage grasses and legumes. But according to some reports (Radwanski and Wickens 1981), neem cannot be grown among agricultural crops due to its aggressive habit.

Others say that neem can be planted in combination with fruit cultures and crops such as sesame, cotton, hemp, peanuts, beans, sorghum, cassava, etc., particularly when neem trees are still young. The neem tree can be lopped to reduce shading and to provide fodder and mulch.

Recent advances in tissue culture and biotechnology should make it possible to select neem phenotypes with desirable height and stature for use in intercropping and various agroforestry systems. The alleloopathic effects of neem on crops, if any, need to be investigated.

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