Success Story - A Way Forward to Lac Cultivation

Abstract

Lac is the only resin of animal origin, being secretion from a gland (lac gland) of a tiny scale insect. Lac insects basically yield three useful by-products viz., resin, dye and wax. Cultivation of lac not only provides livelihood to millions of tribals but also conserves biodiversity associated with lac complex. Northeast India have high potential in terms of lac production. But due to lack of awareness among farmers, Assam contributes only 285 tons accounting 2% of total production of the country. This article describes about a progressive farmer of Dhemaji district, Assam, India who started thinking innovative and took initiative to do scientific lac cultivation in large scale for the first time in Assam. His dedication and effort towards his work and his risk bearing ability makes him a complete entrepreneur and a potential farmer.