A palaash tree to be used in lac cultivation. Picture by Gautam Dey

Dhanbad, April 21: Lac, known for its use in making bangles, is soon going to help 250 families sustain in the tribal areas of Dhanbad.

The divisional forest department here is undertaking the cultivation of lac on palaash (Budea monosperma) trees in a three-year project involving Rs 29 lakh. It would involve support, cultivation and marketing of the product.

Spread over 12 villages of Govindpur, Nirsa, Tundi and Baghmara blocks of Dhanbad, selected families would undertake the cultivation by forming self-help groups (SHGs).

The project plan has been sent to the state government for approval, while 50 selected farmers are undergoing a two-day (April 21 and April 22) training at Indian Lac Research Training Institute (ILRTI) in Ranchi.

Divisional forest officer (DFO) Sanjeev Kumar said that palaash is a very common tree in this part of Jharkhand, which grows mostly in the degraded soil. At least 10 per cent of the forest cover here comprises palaash.

“We planned using the trees to generate income for the poor villagers in the tribal areas. Lac cultivation is easy and reaps profits in a short time,” the DFO said.

Under Lac Vikas Yojana, the government has at present sanctioned Rs 83,000, out of which Rs 25,000 is being used for the training and the rest for purchasing agricultural equipment. The 12 villages, where lac would be cultivated are Amkura in Nirsa, Paharpur and Banpur in Govindpur, Jerma in Dhanbad, Delmi and Domanpur in Topchanchi, Gopalpur in Baghmara, Lahbera, Lachhuraidi, Maharjgunj, Lodhariya and Jamdiha in Tundi.

The 250 families in these villages comprising men and women would be given a target of cultivating lac in 25,000 trees with a support of Rs 10,000 each in the first phase.

The forest department has arranged for brood lac at the rate of Rs 70 per kg from Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. Availability and quality of brood lac is highly uncertain but the department has taken the onus of its unhindered supply.

Lac is a secretion from the body of an insect called laccifer or kerria lacca. It secretes lac resin and forms hard resinous layers as the insect goes into the pupa stage. This resin is scraped off, dried and processed to form lac or shellac.