Abstract
Smallholder farmers in underdeveloped countries, such as Nepal, frequently experience substantial grain storage
losses, which contribute significantly to food insecurity. Wheat is one of the necessary needs of humans, these crops are
particularly grown in the winter season. Humans preserve grains throughout the year. Approximately 10-20% of grain is lost to
pests (insects, rats), and diseases (rotten) cobs in Nepal. As a preventative measure, farmers often used botanical insecticides in
the past, which are now being replaced by modern chemical fumigants. These fumigants residue is highly toxic and causes health
hazards to humans when used continuously and indiscriminately.
Thus, the objective of this review is to assess the traditional plant-based grain storage practices for smallholder farmers in
developing countries and highlight their most promising features and drawbacks. Research studies on neem and other botanical
plants, their constituents as fumigants i.e., compounds acting on target insects against stored-grain crops insects have been
reviewed. Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, has attracted worldwide prominence in recent years, owing to its wide
range of botanical insecticides. This plant's fruit, seeds, oil, leaves, roots, and bark are used for pest management, insecticidal
properties, insect repellents, pesticides properties, have antiretroviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and medicinal properties for grain
crops. Neem extracts can be used against over 250 pests including whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, mites, and termites. This review
summaries the wide range of botanical activities of the neem along with other botanical plants as a grain protectant.