May 15, 2006 :: Reviving the lac industry

Kerria Lacca, the lac insect, feeds on Palash trees’ leaves and secretes a resin known as lac. The resin is processed to yield shellac which is sought after by aeronautics, paper, paints and varnish industries. Once a huge rural industry it generated millions of rupees.

There are great synergies here: the palash tree grows in wastelands, the insect feeds on the tree without killing it, farmers get a cash incomes in those harsh geographies and many industries are served.

Dr Moni Thomas a scientist from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Shahdol, MP [Phone: 0-94251-84255] listened to the wisdom of Ram Manohar Patel, a 90 year old farmer who had profited by it long ago and longed for its revival. In 1903 India’s first shellac factory was established in Umaria, Shadol district.

Thanks to Dr Thomas’s encouragement, more farmers are reviving this rural industry. Source: Outlook magazine