Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part O (2025)

Lac cultivation is an important forest-based livelihood activity in Chhattisgarh, where host trees such as Kusum, Palash, and Ber occur abundantly. Under the Lac Development Scheme, 83 lac cultivation projects are operational, covering 66,934 Kusum, 4,73,768 Palash, and 5,442 Ber trees, benefiting 22,238 rural households. A dedicated Lac Training & Extension Centre at Kanker has trained over 231 master trainers, strengthening scientific cultivation practices in the state. Chhattisgarh contributes approximately 4,000 MT of lac annually, with major producing districts including Jagdalpur, Kanker, Mahasamund, Gariaband, Korea, Sarguja, and Kabeerdham. Lac, a natural resin secreted by Kerria lacca, is cultivated mainly on Kusum, Palash, and Ber trees. India accounts for 50-60% of global lac production, supporting 3-4 million tribal and forest-dependent families. Two principal strains—Rangeeni and Kusmi—yield crops twice a year and differ in host preference and resin quality. Lac processing generates high-demand products such as resin, dye, and wax, used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food industries, paints, electronics, and eco-friendly coatings. Despite having 621.4 million potential host trees, India utilizes only 5-15%, indicating huge scope for expansion. Chhattisgarh has significantly enhanced lac productivity through initiatives of TRIFED, Lac Development Projects, European Commission-supported programmes, and micro-enterprises. The income per host tree varies considerably—Palash (₹900-1000), Ber (₹1200-1500), and Kusum (₹8000-10,000)—highlighting the economic potential of Kusmi lac. Villagers also undertake primary processing of stick lac/scrap lac into dana lac (seed lac) in local processing units. A standard unit processes 100 kg scrap lac per day, employing at least four workers. Through crushing, washing with caustic soda, drying, cleaning, and grading, 600-700 g of seed lac is obtained from 1 kg of scrap lac, providing additional income and rural employment. Strengthening scientific practices, improving processing efficiency, and utilizing untapped host tree resources can further enhance lac production, rural livelihoods, and sustainable forest-based economies in Chhattisgarh.