Introduction to Lac and Lac Culture - Birsa Agricultural University

Introduction to
Lac and Lac Culture
Lac is a natural resinous substance of profound economic importance in India. It is the only resin
from animal origin lending itself to diverse applications e.g. as a protective and decorative
coating in the form of thin films, adhesives and plastics. It makes a small but significant contribution
to the foreign exchange earning of the country, but the most important role that the lac plays in
the economy of the country is that roughly 3-4 million tribal people, who constitute the socioeconomically
weakest link of Indian population earn a subsidiary income from its cultivation. India
is the major producer of lac, accounting for more than 50% of the total world production. It virtually
held a monopoly in the lac trade during the period of the world war-I, producing nearly 90% of the
world’s total output. Today an average of about 20 -22 thousand tons of stick lac (raw lac) is produced
in the country per year. Most of the lac produced in India is from homestead land and wasteland.
Usually host trees standing on rayyati lands are used for lac cultivation and in some areas trees on
Government land are taken on lease or rental basis.
Why Lac Cultivation ?
A good source of livelihood resource for poor farmers.
Assured source of income during drought years.
Require meager inputs (like water, pesticides etc.)
Most suitably grown on marginal and degraded land.
No competition with other horticultural, agricultural crops for land and farm operation.
Do not harm host tree health neither other flora and fauna.
Avoids migration of rural population to urban areas.
Increases opportunities for women for better occupation and returns.
HISTORY OF LAC AND ITS ORGANIZATION :
Lac has been known in India from time immemorial. The term “Lac” seems to have been derived from
the Sanskrit word “Laksha” meaning a hundred thousand and is suggestive of the large number of
insects involved in its production. The description of the insect and its host plant (Food plant) – Palas
(Lakshataru) is recorded in the Atharva Veda. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata that Kauravas built
the highly inflammable lakhagriha or Jadugriha (Lac house) with a motive of physically eliminating
Pandavas by setting the lac palace on fire. The Ain-i-Akbari of 16th Century records the use of pigmented
lac varnishes for painting screens. The use of lac was known to ancient Greek and Romans also.
Increasing demand of lac products after World War-II has received attention in the present century.
In order to increase the production of lac by scientific methods, an association named Indian Lac
Association (I.L.A) was formed in 1921, Lac Research Institute (L.R.I) was established at Namkum,
Ranchi in 1924, with a view to have greater participation of the Government. In 1930, the Indian Lac
Cess Committee (I.L.C.C.) was formed and the committee took over the Indian Lac Research Institute
(ILRI) in 1957. Then the need for a Lac Extension wing was felt and thereafter a Lac Extension Wing
(L.E.W.) under the Indian Lac Cess Committee (I..L.C.C.) was created.
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