Hariyare Ashra is a start-up NGO based in Assam. Its pilot projects are situated in Chirang District near village Deosri and in Kamrup District in Sonapur.
Whereas a larger scope of Agro & Farming activities will be initiated and developed in time to come, at the present time the NGO is working on Lac Cultivation through its affiliated farmers.
Hariyare Ashra may be contacted by email to its Secretary at hariyareashra@gmail.com
Now-a-days, there is increased stress on use of eco-friendly and safe material particularly associated with human contact and consumption. Lac is natural, renewable, biodegradable, versatile and non toxic resin. Thus, a very good increase in demand for lac worldwide is envisaged. The envisaged objective of enhancing lac production has relevance and importance. It is a source of livelihood of tribal and poor inhabiting forest and sub forest areas.
India is the principal lac producing country of the world, producing approximately 18,000 metric tones of unrefined raw lac annually. About 85% of the country's production is exported to various countries. The USA, Germany and Egypt are some of the major lac importing countries of the world. Export of lac from India is in the form of shellac / button lac, seed lac, dewaxed lac, bleached lac and Aleuritic acid.
India has great potential for lac culture. The areas for lac cultivation can be broadly classified into three categories :
(a) Regular lac cultivation areas – at present, only 20-25% of the total available trees are being utilized,
(b) Moderate lac cultivation areas – around 10-15% available trees are being utilized, and
(c) Lac host trees are available but due to lack of knowledge and awareness, none of the trees are utilized for lac cultivation.
Thus, on an average, only 15% of the available lac host trees owned by farmers are being utilized for lac cultivation presently. There are vast untapped areas, which are ecologically favourable for lac production in the country. These areas possess the potential lac host plants which if exploited properly in scientific and systematic manner is liable to enhance the lac production. Enhancing the exploitation of the idle or unexploited lac host plants in favorable lac growing areas can also enhance the lac production.
Indian Lac Research Institute (ICAR), Namkum, Ranchi established in 1924 is actively engaged in addressing the objective of enhancing lac productivity and production through transfer and adoption of proven technologies by interfacing research, development and extension. The Institute has developed various technologies and cultivation packages. By implementing and adopting the scientific method of cultivation, proper host plant management, integrated pest management, enhancing exploitation of unexploited host plants, and cultivation through ‘Joint Forest Management’ programme, the lac production can be enhanced in future.
While enhancing production quality needs equal emphasis to meet the National and International demand. The quality of lac suffers due to following reasons like untimely harvesting, lack of appropriate storage, primary processing soon after harvesting and lack of appropriate processing machines for quality and recovery.
These problems may be addressed by adopting recommended technologies developed by the Indian Lac Research Institute (ICAR).
Whereas a larger scope of Agro & Farming activities will be initiated and developed in time to come, at the present time the NGO is working on Lac Cultivation through its affiliated farmers.
Hariyare Ashra may be contacted by email to its Secretary at hariyareashra@gmail.com
The Lac Opportunity
Now-a-days, there is increased stress on use of eco-friendly and safe material particularly associated with human contact and consumption. Lac is natural, renewable, biodegradable, versatile and non toxic resin. Thus, a very good increase in demand for lac worldwide is envisaged. The envisaged objective of enhancing lac production has relevance and importance. It is a source of livelihood of tribal and poor inhabiting forest and sub forest areas.
India is the principal lac producing country of the world, producing approximately 18,000 metric tones of unrefined raw lac annually. About 85% of the country's production is exported to various countries. The USA, Germany and Egypt are some of the major lac importing countries of the world. Export of lac from India is in the form of shellac / button lac, seed lac, dewaxed lac, bleached lac and Aleuritic acid.
India has great potential for lac culture. The areas for lac cultivation can be broadly classified into three categories :
(a) Regular lac cultivation areas – at present, only 20-25% of the total available trees are being utilized,
(b) Moderate lac cultivation areas – around 10-15% available trees are being utilized, and
(c) Lac host trees are available but due to lack of knowledge and awareness, none of the trees are utilized for lac cultivation.
Thus, on an average, only 15% of the available lac host trees owned by farmers are being utilized for lac cultivation presently. There are vast untapped areas, which are ecologically favourable for lac production in the country. These areas possess the potential lac host plants which if exploited properly in scientific and systematic manner is liable to enhance the lac production. Enhancing the exploitation of the idle or unexploited lac host plants in favorable lac growing areas can also enhance the lac production.
Indian Lac Research Institute (ICAR), Namkum, Ranchi established in 1924 is actively engaged in addressing the objective of enhancing lac productivity and production through transfer and adoption of proven technologies by interfacing research, development and extension. The Institute has developed various technologies and cultivation packages. By implementing and adopting the scientific method of cultivation, proper host plant management, integrated pest management, enhancing exploitation of unexploited host plants, and cultivation through ‘Joint Forest Management’ programme, the lac production can be enhanced in future.
While enhancing production quality needs equal emphasis to meet the National and International demand. The quality of lac suffers due to following reasons like untimely harvesting, lack of appropriate storage, primary processing soon after harvesting and lack of appropriate processing machines for quality and recovery.
These problems may be addressed by adopting recommended technologies developed by the Indian Lac Research Institute (ICAR).
