The tree crop Neem has remained one
of the most important tree crop grown in tropical Africa. This is largely due
to the pharmaceutical and economic significance of this cash crop in the lives
of millions of Africans living south of the Sahara. Interestingly, this crop
survives in virtually all environments within the savanna belt making it a very
useful crop as a pharmaceutical raw material and as an agent of combating climate
change.
Neem represents a force in the medical
field as its application can be vividly seen in the treatment of malaria, typhoid
and flu. Locally, inhabitants of the area where this crop is found usually cut
the leaves and the bark in their pharmaceutical preparations for the control of
malaria and other common ailments. This they achieve by boiling these plant
parts and drinking the resultant liquid at regular and prescribed intervals
until relief from such an ailment is achieved.
In modern medical fields, the
extracts of this tree crop is used in pharmaceutical preparations in
laboratories across the world especially in China where traditional and natural
medicine practice is common. It has been used in the preparation of anti
malarial drugs, antibiotics and antifungal drugs. These drugs have been refined
extensively and have become a major alternative to the synthetic drug
preparations found in pharmacies.
Neem represents a wonderful source of
economic emancipation for the people as its potentials could be harnessed for
greater economic value. The exploitation of this plant could serve as source
foreign exchange earnings for the government and people of countries where they
are grown. Within the savanna belt of tropical Africa, Neem is grown extensively
and sometimes forms long canopies along major roads and streets. Nigeria,
Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad, Central African republic, Morocco and
Sudan are countries with huge presence of this novel plant.
Neem could also be deployed as an instrument
to combat desertification hence check climate change. This is possible because
the plant is extensively grown and can survive very long periods of drought and other harsh
conditions. It can help protect the earth from the devastating effect of the sun’s
ultraviolet rays by removing green house gases such as carbon dioxide that
depletes the earth’s ozone layer.
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