Seminars and Workshops

Over the years, the Foundation has conducted the following seminars, Meets, etc.

January 1995- Seminar on Neem: Opportunities in the 21st century
January 1996- National Seminar on Neem – New Delhi – along with the Ministry of Environment and Forests
Two Business Meets on ‘Neem, Bridging The Innovation Gap’ in cooperation with National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Workshop on Neem Plantation 1996 – ‘Neem’s The Theme’
Symposium ’Neem: It’s Potential for the Future’ along with Solvent Extractors Association.
In December 1996 – Organised ‘World of Neem’ at UDCT, Mumbai. This three day event was the first ever buyer-seller opportunity in Neem. A two-day international conference ‘Neem: Setting Goals for a Global Vision’ was also held on the occasion.
In 1996 – Ms. Pramila Thakkar – Founder Trustee participated in the World Neem Conference, Australia on behalf of the Foundation and presented a paper ‘Saga of Neem’, which was well received at the Conference.
Neem Foundation is celebrating “ Neem Day” every year, coinciding with Gudi Padwa in the month of Chaitra. The wonder tree of India, Neem (‘kadu nimba’ as it is known in Maharashtra), is accorded much significance during this festival. In many homes Neem and mango leaves are tied on the doors as ‘torans’. At dawn everybody has to compulsorily chew some Neem leaves to start the New Year in a healthy way and to fight the heat of summer ahead , a practice that has prompted the dedication of Gudi Padwa as ‘Neem day’.
In May 1999 the 3rd World Neem Conference was held in Vancouver, Canada at the University of British Columbia – under the aegis of the Neem Foundation. A delegation of Neem experts from India participated in the Conference led by Dr. R.C. Saxena.
Urea coating with Neem

West African delegates UNIDO workshop

A three day capacity building training programme was organized in June 2014 on “Promotion of Neem Derived Bio-pesticides in West Africa” at the Neem Research and Technology Development Centre (NRTDC), Gondkhairy, Dist. Nagpur, a centre of Neem Foundation in Nagpur and in collaboration with Govt. of India.

During the training delegates comprising of scientists and Govt. officials from countries like Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Sierra Leone participated in the capacity building workshop.

Demonstration of various neem processing and machineries was arranged & the delegates showed great interest to learn the working of the innovative processes.

A farm visit and interaction with the farmers using neem powder for pest management was organized in the nearby villages and at the NRTDC to share the farmer’s own experience with neem pest management material. At the end of the training programme all participants were fully convinced about the power of neem and its effectiveness in agriculture, as a cost effective alternative.

Following are the reviews received from the participants at the workshop

“We would like to thank all facilitators with particular emphasis to the Nagpur Neem Foundation and VIB for their generous sharing of knowledge and know-how with us. We learned a lot about neem throughout the study tour and this empowerment will be very helpful to us in implementing our pilot project in Togo”.

“We respectfully thank the Directors and staff of Neem Foundation and VIB for the wonderful reception and services accorded us during our stay. You wonderful people made our stay in India enjoyable. We learnt a lot and hope we will continue to collaborate in diverse ways in research and capacity building especially R&D in the promotion of neem products for pest, soil fertility management and human health. We have collective responsibility to protect our environment. We are hopeful that the needed support will be made available in good time for the successful implementation of neem project in West Africa”.

Audience at Regional Workshop, Neem Project, Phase-I, Nagpur

Participants at NRTDC, Regional Workshop, Neem Project, Phase-I