KOKRAJHAR, May 8 � The Principal Scientist of the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Namkin, Ranchi in Jharkhand Dr AK Jaiswal who visited the lac cultivation sites in Chirang district recently said that Assam including the Bodoland region has enormous potential for lac cultivation.
Talking to mediapersons at Aiepowali in Tukrajhar area of Chirang district, Jaiswal said that the region has the natural advantage for lac cultivation. �The soil and climate here are suitable here for production of lac and there are a lot of natural palm trees which are being unused. If these are reaped properly, there are many opportunities, he said while adding that he was quite impressed to see the viability of lac cultivation to sustain the economy.�
Jaiswal said lac, a natural resin of insect origin act as a livelihood for resource-constrained farmers living in forest and sub-forest areas of India. Of the four commercial hosts namely, Scheitiana oleosa, Butea monosperma, Ziziphus mauritiana and Flemingia semialata, Ziziphus mauritiana is suitable and potential host for both kusmi and rangeeni lac insects. The tree is very hard and it can withstand extreme low and high temperatures without any adverse effect on its health.
The productivity of both types of lac is substantially high, coppice ability of host tree is outstanding as trees are ready for re-inoculation after 5-6 months of pruning. There is no adverse effect on potential of host trees, if harvesting of crop and pruning of host trees are carried out simultaneously. The refined technology for kusmi lac production ensures higher productivity of quality lac. Now, technology for exclusive utilisation of this species and in combination with other hosts like B. monosperma and S. oleosa are available. He also said that there were no problems for the marketing as the products would be bought through proper channel.
Dr Kameswar Das, scientist of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chirang said that the KVK has been inspiring the unemployed youths for carrying out lac cultivation so that they become self reliant. He said that the KVK has been extending technical support for the successful farmers besides helping the farmers for sustainable development.
Dr Alok Kumar, senior scientist of the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG) said that he has been looking after the projects of lac cultivation in the North Eastern region. He said the lac cultivation in Chirang despite it being quite new, has become a success. He said the lac cultivation by the unemployed youths was encouraging and this cultivation has contributed a lot for solving the unemployment problem. He also said that they will extend all support to the young farmers who are taking the lac cultivation as a means of livelihood.
The Principal Scientist and other senior scientists from IINRG, Ranchi and KVK visited Aiepowali, Shantipur, Deosri etc., areas near the Indo-Bhutan border where the unemployed youths ware cultivating lac in fertile lands.
The scientists were accompanied by Dominic Basumatary, chairman and other members of the Aie Valley Lac Producers and Allied Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd.
