Neem Oil

Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of Neem (Azadirachta indica), an evergreen tree which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is perhaps the most important of the commercially available products of neem for organic farming and medicines.

Neem oil is generally light to dark brown, bitter and has a rather strong odour that is said to combine the odours of peanut and garlic. It comprises mainly triglycerides and large amounts of triterpenoid compounds, which are responsible for the bitter taste. It is hydrophobic in nature and in order to emulsify it in water for application purposes, it must be formulated with appropriate surfactants.
Neem oil also contains steroids (campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol) and a plethora of triterpenoids of which Azadirachtin is the most well known and studied. The Azadirachtin content of neem oil varies from 300ppm to over 2500ppm depending on the extraction technology and quality of the neem seeds crushed.

Neem trees are abundant in Northern Ghana and the Dulzugu women group have shown how useful the seeds are in promoting sustainable livelihoods and food security for rural households in northern Region, through simple and innovative technology of seed oil extraction.

The Neem tree (Azadiracchta indica) is a fast-growing and drought resistant tree, found everywhere in Ghana. It flourishes very well in the dry Savannah conditions of Northern Ghana where it provides luxurious shade, firewood and also used for afforestation. It produces large quantities of seeds that are hardly used. (Gabriele Stoll, 2000 - Natural Crop Protection in the Tropics).

The residue from the extraction is used to control pest on the farm.

STORAGE OF NEEM OIL
Store neem oil in a cool dark place, away from sunlight. In case neem oil solidifies due to low temperatures, put the bottle in warm water (below 95 degree F) to liquefy. Putting the bottle in very hot water may reduce the effectiveness of oil.