Neem as an organic pesticide, fungicide, and nematicide for harmful insects and fungal infections

9 August 2026. Interview with  Linda Akeyate Issaka of Ntiligira Enterprise at the World Social Forum of Cotonou/Benin.

Ntiligira Enterprise is a Ghanaian agribusiness based in Tamale, led by Managing Director Linda Akeyate Issaka, that promotes sustainable and organic farming through the local production of environmentally friendly agricultural inputs. 

The enterprise produces neem-based pesticides, neem oil and neem cake, as well as compost, providing farmers with alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers while creating value from locally available neem resources. 

Ntiligira was selected for the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) Cohort 10 incubation programme and has also been profiled as a green-economy investment project, reflecting its potential to contribute to climate-smart agriculture, soil health and the expansion of biological crop protection in Ghana.

Linda Akeyate Issaka describes Ntiligira Enterprise as a company founded in 2020 to provide organic alternatives to chemical pesticides.

"Ntiligira means my redeemer"

The business specialises in producing neem oil for pest control and neem cake for nematode treatment and soil fertilisation. Additionally, the company engages in small-scale composting to support organic farming systems.

Production Capacity

• Daily output with two machines: 50 to 60 bags (50 kg each) of neem seeds and approximately 450 litres of oil.
• Monthly capacity: 10,000 bags of neem cake (50 kg).
• Batch capacity: Approximately 20,000 bags of compost (50 kg).

Operational Challenges

• She identifies significant barriers to scaling production and reducing costs to compete with inorganic fertilisers. A primary concern is that the price difference between organic and inorganic options discourages farmer adoption.
• The company currently lacks essential machinery such as a chipper truck, water tanker, and a backhoe machine. Acquiring these would allow the business to lower compost prices from 110 cedis per bag to between 70 or 80 cedis. 
• Furthermore, there is a critical need for dedicated cargo trucks to transport seeds from communities; this ensures the organic integrity of the seeds by preventing contamination from chemicals during transit in general market trucks.

Growth Potential

• Despite current hurdles, Linda Akeyate Issaka remains optimistic due to the abundant availability of raw materials in the local region. 
• The primary goal is to secure investment or acquire logistics to meet the high demand from farmers within the organic system.

Related: 

• 21 July. Biosolutions in Afro-Eurasian Agricultural Innovation - The EFARD/GFAiR/CAAE webinar examined the institutional conditions required to scale biopesticides and biofertilizers across Africa, Asia, and Europe
• 1 July. Asia-Pacific Biopesticides Community of Practice This webinar focused on how nature-based pest management and biopesticides can strengthen climate-resilient agriculture across Asia and Africa, with particular attention to dryland farming systems and fragile mountain ecosystems.
• 25 June 2026. The Monthly Talks on Agroecology webinar focused on the growing investment potential of the organic fertilizer sector in Africa as a strategic component of the continent's agroecological transition.