Evolution of Neem Oil Coated Urea through Frugal Innovation

摘要

This paper traces the evolution of neem oil coated urea (NOCU), the first ever indigenous value-added urea fertiliser developed by frugal innovation by a team of scientists of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The facility extended by two industries for industrial scale trial runs helped in transforming this bench scale product into truly a commercial product conforming to FCO specifications. The technology of preparation of NOCU was further strengthened by shelf-life studies and development of analytical method both for NOCU and neem oil components. The NOCU containing about 0.5 kg per tonne of urea was touted as a miracle urea for it enhanced the agronomic N use efficiency ranging from 5-16% depending on the soil conditions and the crops as evident from numerous agronomic trials. It also contributed to minimising the environmental pollution of urea. The NOCU also was found to repel termites and blue bull (Nilgai) in the crop fields. The Government of India recently took a policy decision to go in for 100% coating of prilled urea thus leading to enormous savings of fossil fuel, energy and labour. Additionally, saving to the tune of Rs 10,000 crores (Rs. 100 billions) annually from diversion of subsidised urea to other uses is reported. Denying urea to milk adulterants is another added advantage. It is advised to use standard name viz. NOCU to avoid confusion about the nature of neem material. Proper material sheet information may be encouraged in all publications. Continuous research in terms of product surveillance in the market, quality of neem oil used and the performance of NOCU for different crops and cropping system under diverse agro-ecological conditions will sustain this indigenous product developed through a frugal innovative approach. There is a vast scope to identify the key meliacins governing agronomic N use efficiency for converging on the quality assurance of NOCU based on meliacins in addition to other FCO specifications for prilled urea.