For more than twenty years, women from the Self Help Group (SHG) in Algol village, Zaheerabad Mandal in Telangana, have been producing organic fertilisers and pesticides, securing their income. These women manufacture neem oil and neem cake. Neem oil is applied as an organic insect repellent across various crops, while neem cake serves as an organic fertiliser. The SHG members of Algol have sustained the production of neem oil and cake for over two decades.
Twenty-five years ago, the Deccan Development Society (DDS) provided a machine to these women to promote organic farming in the region. However, production halted for a few years due to various challenges. Four years ago, the Sangareddy district administration stepped in to support these women by providing three machines. Since then, the 15 women have resumed production and have been sustaining it for the past four years.
Suvarna, one of the members, explained that every year during the season, they purchase neem seeds from Jadcherla, Tandur, and other parts of the State. Neem trees typically bear fruits in July and August. These fruits are dried and used to produce oil and cake. The women receive orders from farmers across the State who practice organic farming.
After crushing one quintal of neem seeds, the women obtain 95 kilograms of cake and 5 litres of oil. They purchase the seeds at Rs. 30 per kilogram and sell the cake for Rs. 35 per kilogram, while the oil fetches Rs. 400 per litre. Each litre of oil can yield 200 litres of pesticide when mixed with water. The women have gained recognition for their efforts, as few others are producing these two products.
Another member of the SHG, Nirmalamma, has appealed to the government for assistance in scaling up their year-round production of neem oil and cake, as well as in marketing their products. She expressed that they currently face challenges in gathering sufficient funds to purchase a large quantity of seeds at the start of each year.
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