Neem: Classification, Origin, Distribution, Characteristics,  and Application

Azadirachta has been classified into two species: Azadirachta excelsa Kack, which is only found in the Philippines and Indonesia, and Azadirachta indica A. Juss, which is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. In India, Bangladesh, Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, the former grows as a wild tree. Neem trees are currently observed flourishing in about 72 nations across Asia, Africa, Australia, North, Central, and South America.
An estimated 25 million trees are flourishing throughout the country, with Karnataka accounting for 5.5 percent of them. Tamilnadu (17.8 percent) and Uttar Pradesh (55.7 percent) take the first and second spots, respectively. Along with Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union territory, the other Indian states where neem trees may be seen growing are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, etc. India leads the world in the production of neem seeds, with an annual production of 4,42,300 tonnes of seeds that result in 88,400 tonnes of neem oil and 3,53,800 tonnes of neem cake.

Neem: Classification, Origin, Distribution, Characteristics,  and Application Read More »