Status report on global Neem usage - Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal

2. GLOBAL NEEM DISSEMINATION AND USAGE
2. Remove pulp
Before drying the pulp should be totally removed from the seeds. This requires washing
and scrubbing of the seeds.
3. Dry the seeds
Normally neem seeds are spread out in thin clean layers under shade and dried for several
days. If the air is very humid, it may be necessary to dry the seeds directly in the sun for
some hours before drying for several days in the shade. If the drying conditions are not
adjusted, seeds begin to go mouldy, which can lead to a larger quantity becoming infected.
Infected seeds or other impurities such as broken seeds, stones, soil or parts of other plants
should be sorted out. Contamination with storage pests, fungus or chemicals (pesticides)
may cause problems when using or processing the seeds.
Storage
Only good quality seeds can be stored for longer periods of time. The husk of the seeds must
be intact and they should be kept in clean cloth bags or pots in dry conditions. It is important
that after drying the moisture content of the seeds is around 8%. Ideally they should be
stored at a low ambient temperature (10 – 20°C) and for no longer than one year. Each batch
of harvested neem raw material should be stored and marked separately.
Quality standards of neem raw material
The following table shows the minimum quality standards for all uses of neem.
Table 2.3: Quality standards for raw material
Raw
material
Quality
parameter
Seeds Azadirachtin
content
Crushed
neem
seeds
Moisture
content of the
seeds
Degree of
purity or contamination
Storage of dry
seeds
Storage and
packaging
Requirements Notes
Minimum 1.5 µg/g Lower values indicate faulty harvesting,
drying or storage; or the seeds are to old
Drying under 8 % Faulty drying; the seeds cannot be stored
for a long time; they begin to go mouldy.
Clean seeds without
pulp, impurities
and no contamination
In large, well-ventilated
sacks for no
more than 2 years;
Vacuum-packed in
quality plastic
bags (PE/PA);
bags should be
recyclable
Problems processing the seeds; impurities
such as stones, soil or parts of other plants;
no contamination with storage pests or
fungi, nor with chemicals (pesticides)
Store-room have to be dry, clean, ventilated
and without contamination of storage
pests or fungus; neither chemicals
Storage maintains constant quality and
freedom from impurities and moisture for at
least 2 years; this means that moisture and
air should not penetrate the bag
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