GOOD morning to you all, and a Happy New Year, James used a metaphor familiar to anyone in the Middle East to illustrate the need for patience as we await the Lords return. He wrote of the “ Early and Latter Rain” when the farmer planted his crops in the autumn, the early rains would help them take root and get started. This was followed by a dry period, then shortly before harvest, the latter rains would fall. These rains would ripen and nature the crops giving a good harvest.

A farmer who becomes impatient and harvested his crops before the spring rains would have a small and unprofitable yield. As the farmers must know patience, so must we, this is not easy in time of hardship, when we are being treated unjustly, we want the trouble to be over as soon as possible. But again James said “Just Be Patient” Lets pause for a moment: We are here to be perfected, Only God our needs can see, rarest gems bear hardest grinding Gods own workmanship are we. He who has begun a good work on you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Our topic: Nowadays, the used of Botanical insecticide is essential to the production of crops. The increasing price of chemical pesticide, environmental safety, rest resistance and demand for organically grown crops consequently drive the farmers to look for other ways to control or at least include in their strategies new methods of controlling insect pests. One crop with potential as botanical insecticides is the neem plant. Neem can also be called as Nim, Margosa Tree or Indian Lilac (English) its botanical name is “Azadirachta Indica” under the family of Meliaceae or the Hogany family. Neem is thought to have originated from Assam , Northeast India and Bangladesh where it is common throughout the central zone. In rural areas of Bangladesh and India , Neem has long been used to protect food from being spoiled by insects.

Meat and fish in these areas, would be cleaned using water extract of Neem and would then be stored with dried neem leaves. The wall and floors of the storage area would be painted with a mixture of Cow Dung, Clay, and Neem Oil. This mixture would deter insect from landing on the wall. It also interferes with the development of insects that eat food treated with mixture. The use of Neem as a pesticide to kill or repel insects was first investigated in detail in the 1920's. Later in the 1960's Chemist in my home, Britain , isolated one of the active compounds in Neem seeds. This compound is called Azadirachtin which is found in all parts (wood, leaves and fruits)but the highest level is found in the seeds . This substance is powerful insect repellant, but is harmless to people, animals and the environment because it breaks down rapidly.

The studies conducted show that “Azadirachtin” acts by: Disturbing or inhibiting the development of the eggs, larvae or pupae. Blocking or molting of larvae of nymphs. Repelling larvae and adults. and Deterring feeding. Depending on the stage of the life cycle, insect death may not occur for several days. However upon ingestion of minute quantities, insect become inactive and feeding stops. Products containing extracts from seed have been developed for sale as commercial insecticide and are available in some parts of the world.

I'm not sure, where but will do more research. Neem based insecticide have been shown to be effective against over 200 deferent types of insect including Head lice, Fleas, Locusts, Mosquitoes, Whiteflies, Aphids, Thrips, Caterpillars, Beatles, Mealybugs, Leafminers , Gypsy moths, and other insect on food, greenhouse crops ornamentals and turf grasses. Mature Neem seeds can be harvested, cleaned and dried. These are then founded to make a powder or crushed and pressed to extract the pure neem oil.

For neem powder used: mix 500 grams of neem powder with 10 liters of soapy water. The soap helps to dissolve the active substances in the neem powder and makes them stick to plant surfaces. Allow this mixture to stay overnight. In the morning after stirring well sprinkle or spray the solution onto plants using a sprayer. Be sure to sieve the solution using the fine cloth to avoid clogging the spray nozzles. When applying the solution, make sure that the leaves are completely covered specially the undersides where the pests are sure to hide. For neem oil used, mix one liter of water with 40 to 50 ml. (4-5 spoons) of neem oil. Add soap to aid the neem to dissolved in water and make it adhere to the surface of plants apply the solution the same way as the neem powder. To find out more about planting material, contact East- West Company, Inc. Take care see you next week…