Information Related to the Cultivation of Lac in India

Lac is a natural resin produced by an insect called Keria leca. It is a female insect, which expels a liquid from its body, and this liquid becomes very hard as soon as it comes in contact with air. The state of Jharkhand has been considered the leader in lac production. The output of this lac is done primarily by the tribal communities living on the edge of the forests. This production of lacquer remains a unique source of livelihood for the tribes. Also, for performing many tasks vst tractor is used by farmers as it comes under an affordable budget. 

Farmers are told about lakhs of farming information and benefits related to farming. So that the farmer’s brother shows interest in cultivating a maximum of lakhs. The highest lac is produced from the safflower tree, and the price of lac made from the safflower tree remains very high in the market because farmers are advised to create lac on the safflower tree.

Where is the cultivation of lac

Lac is also cultivated in China, Russia, Burma and Vietnam. However, let’s talk about the production of lac only in India. It is produced in Jharkhand state’s Chota Nagpur, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh state, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

In Chhattisgarh, lac is cultivated in Surguja, Raigarh, Rajnandgaon, Kanker, Janjgir, Durg, Dantewada districts. Apart from this, the lac crop is also done in many sections of Madhya Pradesh. Lac is grown in some parts of Mandla, Dindori, Shahdol, Damoh Sagar, and the districts. Kusmi lac cultivation is being done on a large scale in the Kanker district by scientific method.

lacquered trees

Since lac is produced from insects, these insects are also known as lac insects or lucifer lacca. It is an insect of the Coccidia family. This insect comes in the same quality as bedbugs. The lac insect thrives on only a few trees, which grow in India, Thailand, Burma and Indonesia. There was a time when lac was produced only in India and Burma. But now it is also grown in Thailand and Indonesia and sent to America and Europe.

lac crop

There are two types of lac crops. One is called Katki Aghani, and the other Baisakhi is called Jethvi. The first crop is planted in June and July, and in October-November, lac seeds are planted for Baisakhi Jethani. About two to ten seeds are produced on a tree. After this, two and a half times more are available raw lakh seeds. The natural lac obtained from Kusumi, Kartiki, and Baisakh crops is known as ‘Rangili lac’. More than coloured lac is obtained. The lac obtained from Kusumi is of excellent quality. In which the lac can be ‘eri’ or ‘funk’.

Lakhwani gets lac by cutting the twig before the insect leaves the poop on the trees. This is called Eri Lakh. In this era, lac live insects are found in the mature or immature stage. Apart from this, when the insects have left the poa, the lac obtained by cutting the twig is called blown lac. Baisakhi crop is planted in June to July for the crop of lac insect or been on trees in October or November. Vaisakhi and Katki crops are ready in 8 to 4 months, respectively.

What are lakhs and lakhs of insects called?

It is a kind of natural resin made from the secretion of the female insect Lacifera lecca. No species of lac are present in the whole world, but in India, there are only two species of lac, Lacifera and Paratecardina. In this, the Lecca subspecies of Lacifera are found only in the country, which has Kusmi and is colourful.

The lac insect starts its life as a baby insect. This baby insect completes its life cycle by sucking the sap of tree twigs. After some time, the babies sit permanently on the tree branch and prepare a cover of juice secretion over their body. This covering is neither formed by the mouth nor by the faeces because there is a wax deposition in these places, and it does not settle. After emerging from the pupa, the male adult insect dies three days after mating with the female adult insect, and the breeding female begins to secrete abundantly. Apart from this, the development of eggs also starts. A female insect keeps giving birth to babies for fifteen days, and this number reaches a maximum of 400. The stalk on which the baby insect lives is called sister lac, with which the preparation for the next crop is started.

Spraying medicine in lac farming

In lac crops, insecticides/fungicides are sprayed to prevent damage caused by fog and enemy pests. The first drug is sprayed within 30 days of insect release or seeding, and the second in 60 days. 22-25 M.L. for preparation of insect and fungicide. Prepare Fipronil and Carbendazim 10 GM powder by mixing them in 15 litres of water. Moreover, for spraying medicine in large amounts, farmers used solis tractor to handle implements. 

Pruning of trees in lac cultivation

For the healthy trees to get tender and juicy twigs, the trees should be lightly pruned from time to time. So that keto can be quickly followed. The safflower tree is harvested from January to February and June to July. Apart from this, harvesting Palas trees should be done after the autumn season before the arrival of new shoots. Prune the plum crop in May.