Neem seeds being sold like hot cakes

Nalgonda: Neem seeds have become a major source of income to women during this season from the rural areas in Chinthapally mandal of Deverakonda Assembly constituency in the district.

The purchase of neem seeds got a boost at Chinthaplly Market Yard, Kurmeda and Venkateshwaranagar(Mall) centers. In view of this, villagers of Chintapalli mandal are bringing neem seeds in large quantities to sell them to the traders.

Every year in the months of June and July, neem seeds flood the Chinthapally market. Rural women would earn between Rs 150 to Rs 200 on each day on the sales of neem seeds to the traders. Seeds come to Mall of Chintapally mandal from Madgul, Yacharam, Marigudem,Kurmeda,Chakali Sherpalli, Kurram palli,Pollepalli and Ramnagar. Rural women are showing more interest in collecting neem seeds on hike of Rs 100 per quintal to last year’s rate of Rs 500 per quintal.

The purchased neem seeds at Chintapalli mall market yard and in other places in the mandal will be exported to Hyderabad,Vijayawada,Guntur,Aurangabad,Nagpur and Vishakapatnam. There is a huge demand for neem seeds in Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Neem seeds are also used as a pesticide for orchids. So also, the oil extracted from the neem seeds is being used in the manufacture of soaps. The cake after extracting the oil from the neem seeds is also being used as a pesticide for mango, lemon, and pomegranate orchids.

The twigs of neem trees are used for brushing of teeth by the villagers and they are also used in the making of tooth paste. Neem has ayurvedic medicinal properties.