In this article we will discuss about Lac Culture Practice in India.
(A) Local Practice:
As such, lac cultivation is simple and does not require any large investment. In India, local lac cultivation is carried out casually, as it is being regarded as subsidiary crop. Only natural inoculation occurs in such cases.
However, such local practices have some disadvantages like:
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(a) The same host plants are exploited year after year without giving rest for recoupment. So the trees lose vigour and are incapable to grow new succulent shoots. The trees gradually become weak and die subsequently.
(b) No pruning is done. Partial harvest is done keeping few branches untouched for self-inoculation of next crop.
(c) The self-inoculation may invite heterogeneous infestation of nymphs leading to morbidity of total brood during hot season. Such situation may force the cultivators to abandon lac cultivation.
(B) Improved Practice:
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For sustained production of lac as well as steady returns, some improved method of cultivation can be adopted. The underlying principle of such improved method is to provide sufficient rest to the host plants after each harvest.
For this purpose:
(1) Coupe and
(2) Alteration of plant systems of cultivation are adopted.
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(1) Coupe System:
In this system, the host plants of a definite area are divided into coupe, i.e., groups each containing certain number of plants. Trees of only one coupe are inoculated at one time, Following harvesting, these trees are given rest when they gain back the lost vigour, while other trees (which were in rest) with succulent twigs become ready for inoculation.
Thus, in this coupe system, alternate groups of trees are used for lac cultivation. Full inoculation and full cropping can be done in this improved system.
(a) Rangeeni Coupe:
In Rangeeni farms, two coupe systems with equal number of Palas trees in two coupes having six months rest is adopted for raising Baisakhi-cum-Kartiki crops, in alternate seasons. The trees are inoculated with about 500 gm of Rangeeni brood lac per tree, in the month of October-November.
Harvesting is done after a year, after allowing self-inoculation in June-July by partial harvesting and then harvesting the combined Baisaki-cum-Kartiki crop in next October-November.
(b) Kusmi Coupe:
In the Kusmi farms, Kusum is the major lac host plant species of Kusmi strain of lac insect. Five-coupe systems with equal number of trees in each coupe having 18 months rest in between pruning and inoculation is adopted.
The trees are pruned 18 months prior to inoculation. Thereafter, in the subsequent crops, harvesting will serve the purpose of pruning. The harvesting of crop is done after 6 months of inoculation.
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(2) Alteration of Plant:
Another system adopted in improved lac practice is alteration of plant. In this system, the variety of host plant is changed after one crop. During inoculation, the seed twigs are transferred on the host plant of another variety. In this way, every type of host plant gets sufficient rest to regain its vigour and growth.
General Measures for Improved Lac Culture:
During lac culture, some important measures are also considered for improving lac cultivation:
(1) Use of superior breed of lac insects.
(2) Use of good quality brood lac in appropriate quantity.
(3) Post harvest management of lac crop, host plant management and lac pest management.
(4) Quality brood lac ensures high fecundity of insects and fewer requirements of inoculums.
(5) Timely harvesting of crops and proper inoculation may reduce the risk of loss of lac insect to a large extent.
(6) Involvement of forest and forest fringe dwellers in the Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme in different lac cultivating states to enhance lac production.
(7) If forest lac cultivators and state forest departments work jointly, the host plants under the custody of state forest can be used properly. It will result in a boom for lac cultivation and production as well.
Problems of Lac Culture in India:
Lac cultivation is simple, free from high technology and does not need large investment. It requires only part-time attention of cultivators, thus, eminently suited to the tribal/rural people living in the vicinity of natural and man-made forests.
However, sustained attention on the lac cultivation will lead to the sustained production. Despite good unrealised demand for lac (both domestic as well as overseas), the lac production growth had not been very healthy in India.
Since 2008, Indian lac cultivators are facing several problems as stated below:
(1) Change in Climatic Conditions:
In many parts of India, entire colonies of lac insect, Kerria lacca, have been dying during the reproductive period. The reason for such mass death is uncertain. According to one school of thought, unbearable heat during March and April may hinder the insects to infest the next crop. Again, the excessive heat makes the resin melt, killing the newly produced young insects.
(2) Parasites:
Some parasites grow within the lac insect and thus insecticides cannot be used because that will kill the parasite along with the lac insect.
(3) Wrong Cultivation:
Delay in harvesting of brood lac, crop inoculation and wrong method of transportation of brood can cause huge loss in production of lac.
(4) Wrong Pest Management:
Untimely and incorrect pest management operations may result in substantial loss to lac crop or even complete failure.
(5) Lack of Adequate Processing Facilities:
The absence of adequate processing facilities, makes lac cultivators unable to realise the full value of their product. This is because the market value of crude lac is rather limited in comparison to the final processed products, such as shellac, which commands a premium in the market.
(6) Inefficient Extraction Method:
The lac dye isolated during the processing is a valuable product for the textile industry as a colouring agent. The pigment content of the stick lac can be as high as 10% but the yield of isolated lac dye usually is less than 1% due to inefficient extraction method as followed in country system.
(7) Failure of protection mechanism and uncontrolled illicit cutting has resulted in degradation of forest as well as lac host plants.
(8) The lack of access to credit and insurance services.
Measures taken for Advancement in Lac Culture:
(1) Conservation:
A conservation package including protection of lac host plants, their management and propagation for the purpose of lac cultivation is now being started for each region to ensure viable income for rural people. The National Forest Policy (1988) has given due importance to people’s participation in creation and conservation of resources.
(2) Women’s Involvement:
Women can do a majority in the operations in lac cultivation and post- harvest operations, in addition to the household works. Thus, women are now given training and their skills and competencies around various operations are utilised for lac production.
(3) Use of alternate host plants, specially for areas where traditional host plants are not available.
(4) Development of multi-locational field trials for testing new breeds.
(5) Development of integrated lac based farming system.
(6) Establishment of nursery for distribution of saplings of lac host plants in large number.
(7) Establishment of information hub for lac cultivators.
(8) Improvement of existing training facility at ILRI.
(9) Demonstration of lac cultivation process via models to encourage the lac cultivators.
Recent Activities for Improvement of Lac Culture in West Bengal:
In West Bengal following districts are practising lac cultivation, viz., Purulia, Bankura, Midnapur, Murshidabad and Malda. However, during last few years, due to various problems lac production as well as lac cultivation has undergone many sufferings.
So the Government of West Bengal has undertaken an active role through Directorate of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (M and SSE). Their main aim is to develop lac cultivation for the improvement of livelihood and socio-economic condition of poor tribal and backward families.
Therefore, government has taken up following programmes:
(i) In order to educate lac growers and to make them aware of improved method of lac cultivation, demonstration centres have been set up by Directorate of M and SSE.
(ii) In order to cover the demand of the lac cultivators, the Directorate of M & SSE has established supplementary scheme for purchase of brood lac from local market and distribution through local Panchayets and Panchayet Samities to the poor lac growers at free of cost.
(iii) Organising cultivation training camp in collaboration with Panchayet Samity/Gram Panchayets.
(iv) In order to encourage the development of lac industry within the state, West Bengal Government has been promoting and assisting the lac artisans’ Cooperative Societies (LACS) for producing quality lac products. The existing 3 LACS (Purulia-1, Bankura-1 and Murshidabad-1) are manufacturing quality sealing wax as per I.S. specifications and supplying them to the districts during election.
(v) Establishment of Training Cum Servicing Centre (TCSC) for industrial training to lac cultivators and lac artisans. These centres educate many youth regarding row lac processing and lac based handicrafts.
(vi) The TCSC of Chalna, Bankura has undertaken a special Lac Training Scheme for manufacturing lacquered dolls and jewelleries.
(vii) Imparting training to Self Help Groups in the cultivation of lac.
(viii) Apart from above, another programme under R.K.V.Y has been continuing since 2003-04 with a view to increase lac crop production, specially at Purulia and Bankura.
Recent Activities for Improvement of Lac Culture in Jharkhand:
In India, Jharkhand produces maximum quantity of lac per year. Palamau, Latehar, Garhwa, Ranchi, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega, Saraikela, Hazaribagh, Chatra, East and West Singhbhum are main districts of Jharkhand where lac host plants are available and thus lac culture is being practised.
Due to lack of proper knowledge, rural people of this state are facing several problems and losing interest in it. To overcome these problems, The Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Ranchi organises several training programmes, scientific knowledge and training on lac cultivation for all stakeholders.
Some of such programmes are mentioned below:
(1) Training on Modern Method of Lac Cultivation:
It is mainly meant for unemployed rural youth, forest guards and supervisory staff.
(2) Education Programme:
This is one week duration programme, meant for agricultural and non- agricultural science graduates.
(3) Farmers Training:
This one week duration programme is on scientific lac cultivation, primary processing and uses.
(4) Trainers Training Programme:
The participant includes community workers, SDO, Forest Rangers, District Rural Agriculture Extension Officers, members of Agriculture Development Officer, lac facilitator, primary society managers, Deputy Managing Directors of Districts (Forest), Lac executives, and others. In this programme, they all are given special training.
(5) Field Out-Reach Training Programme:
This is of 1-2 day(s) and a very effective programme. This programme helps to enhance visibility of the Institute and help in development of linkages with NGOs and state government organisations.
(6) Field Visits for Lac Crop Monitoring:
The HNRG also undertakes monitoring of lac crop for possible incidence of disease and pest, and then suggests on-spot remedial measures.
(7) In- Campus Orientation Programme:
It also organises one-day exposure visit to institute’s farm, museum. Interaction session is also being organised round the year.
Importance of Lac Culture:
(1) Lac cultivation is a good source of livelihood for poor tribals inhabiting sub-hilly tracts with meagre investment.
(2) It is a good scope for marginal and degraded lands and has no competition for land operation with agriculture/horticulture crops.
(3) Highly remunerative cultivation. For example, one hectare of Ber plantation with Kusmi lac cultivation can produce net return of Rs. 3-5 lakh/year.
(4) It is like an insurance crop especially during drought year as the crop is very good during such adverse climate.
(5) A good number of host trees like Ber, Palas, etc. occurring naturally in forests and sub- forests in Chattisgarh are available for commercial exploitation.
(6) It is a good source of employment generation. One hectare of Kusmi lac cultivation on Ber generates 620 man-days of employment/year.
(7) Lac is the most superior natural resin. Besides resins, lac insects also yield lac dye and lac wax, all of which find extensive uses in Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicines.
(8) Lac culture can help in ecosystem development. Cultivation of lac not only provides livelihood to millions of lac growers but also helps in conserving vast stretches of forests, lac insects and associated biota. Most of the lac host plants grow in forest areas and farmers resist felling of these trees, thereby protecting them for lac cultivation.
Thus, lac culture plays a vital role in the protection of our bio-resources. Cultivation of lac host plants for timber and fuel yields revenue in cycles of long years, whereas cultivation of lac on these trees gives a return almost every year.
(9) It has high export potential about 75%. In the world, India is the leader in lac production and export.
(10) Lac cultivation involves significant women participation.