Socio-economic transformation through scientific lac cultivation: A livelihood security perspective for Rural India

Abstract:

In the Indian subcontinent, lac production is predominantly localized within specific geographic zones, most notably the Chhota Nagpur plateau of Jharkhand, alongside Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Among these prominent lac-producing regions, the state of Jharkhand occupies the premier position in terms of yield, followed sequentially by Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. The proportional contributions of these five leading states to national aggregate production stand at approximately 53%, 17%, 12%, 8%, and 3%, respectively, collectively commanding roughly 93% of India's total lac output.

Throughout many agrarian tracts of India, indigenous and tribal communities depend heavily on rainfed subsistence agriculture and forest ecosystems to sustain their livelihoods. In this socioeconomic framework, lac cultivation emerges as a pivotal mechanism for generating immediate cash flow, particularly for marginal, small-scale, and resource-constrained farmers who possess limited capital asset reserves and labor capacities. Furthermore, the practice of lac cultivation harbors substantial potential for generating seasonal employment for both male and female laborers, serving as a critical economic buffer during the agricultural off-season. As a commercial commodity, lac represents a remarkably lucrative non-timber forest product (NTFP) that offers excellent economic dividends, thereby offering a viable avenue for rural employment generation and poverty alleviation.