Neem in Nicaragua
February 15, 1996
A workers' cooperative in Nicaragua, formed after a
government sponsored project was forced to close several
years ago, is successfully producing and marketing neem
insecticides. COPINIM, the Cooperative for the Production of
Neem Insecticide, has three successful items on the market:
pure neem oil and two granulated products. These products
have proven effective in combating 160 different agricultural
pests in Nicaragua, including nematodes, corn weevils,
beetles, aphids, sorghum locusts and the highly destructive
white tomato moth.
In 1987, the Nicaraguan Ministry of Agriculture established a
research project to study the effectiveness of neem against
the most common insect pests in Nicaragua. The project was
part of an effort to produce agricultural inputs within the
country to counteract the U.S.-imposed economic blockade that
was in place from 1985-1990. The "Botanic Insecticide
Project" received financial and technical support from the
Umverteilen Foundation in Germany.
After the staff of ten Nicaraguans and four Germans
determined that Nicaragua had suitable conditions for neem
tree cultivation, they turned their efforts to designing
workshops and educational materials for teaching campesinos
about the tree and home production of neem insecticides. At
the same time, the staff worked on developing an appropriate
method for making a commercially marketable neem-based
insecticide.
After the 1990 elections, however, the German foundation
withdrew support fearing a lack of commitment by the new
government; as they feared, the Ministry of Agriculture
proceeded to terminate the project and return the state lands
on which the largest neem plantation was located to the
former owners. The project staff, however, reorganized
themselves as a cooperative and were able to once again
obtain funding from German and Swedish funders.
Since then, COPINIM staff members have designed and built
pulping, washing, husking and drying operations, adapting
equipment used for processing coffee. The coop also maintains
a neem tree nursery and participates in educational programs
to promote the planting of neem trees to aid reforestation of
Nicaragua's dry areas as well as providing future raw
materials.
The coop is establishing itself as a stable business
enterprise, and their neem insecticides will soon compete in
the Nicaraguan marketplace with more toxic products offered
by multinational chemical companies. Beyond the national
market, COPINIM has also found a growing market for their
products in Europe and Latin America. However, the coop has
decided not to export large quantities of neem insecticides
until Nicaraguan farmers can produce substantial quantities
for themselves and have no need to buy the products. To
further this goal, coop members give seminars for farmers on
home processing of neem as well as collaborating with
universities and other institutions in training, research and
adapting machinery.
Source: Nicaragua Farmers' View, November 1995.
Contact: COPINIM c/o CIEETS, Apartado RP-082, Managua,
Nicaragua.
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