Neem trees outnumber people in Machenahalli!
Machenahalli, June 10, DHNS:
''No other village can boast of having so many neem trees as we have in our village. We protect neem trees because we respect and rever it,'' says a Machenahalli Gram Panchayat Secretary Ramesh.
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Looking at the boundary of neem trees around almost every farm, he says that there is one neem tree for every person in Machenahalli or neem trees may out number the population of Machenahalli, which is situated closely to historically significant Veera Narayana temple. For villagers, neem is a source of additional income. Surprisingly, over 600 people in the village earn over Rs 300 per week by just picking neem seeds. Lakshmamma is one of them. She is 65-years old and her son Ramesh accompanies her in her work. She earns about Rs 5 per measure of neem seeds. “From morning till evening, two persons can collect upto 10 measures of neem seeds,” she says.
The women who pick seeds wash the seeds and then dry it. While those who are economically stable wait for the price of the seeds to go up but those who are economically backward, sell the seeds once in a week at Javagal market.
“We can even exchange the seeds for groundnut oil, sesame oil or any other oil from the oil sellers who come to the village,” says Umesh, a resident.
The villagers have discovered several uses of neem seeds and the tree itself.
“When we suffer from fever, we make a soup of neem barks and the fever will be treated. If not, only then we go to the hospital. Neem leaves serve as good fodder for our cattle,” says Lakshmamma.
Neem oil is used in coffee and areca plantation as well. It is also used in piggeries in large quantity. The neem pulp (neem hindi) is said to be a good manure for coconut trees. Superior quality neem oil is sold at Rs 1000 per litre.
Though neem products are expensive, the people who eke out living by selling neem seeds are hardly earning minimum income for their efforts.
