Jorhat, Dec. 21: Entomologists of the Assam Agricultural University are engaged in reviving the lost glory of lac and placing the Northeast at the forefront of its production.

Lac is in high demand in the international market.

India was once among the foremost producers of lac - the natural resin with which a house was built for the Pandavas as mentioned in the Mahabharata.

The head of the university's entomology department, L.K. Hazarika, today said they are at present studying the genetic material of lac insects found in the region to find out the best strain which could be released for farmers.

The university has also set up a lac park and a lac museum under the entomology department.

"There was a saying that economies of the US, China and India thrived on three insects - honey bee, silk worm and lac respectively. History tells us how important lac was in trade and commerce. A house made of lac was built for the Pandavas to stay which was supposed to be burnt with them inside it. Imagine the scale of lac produced to build a house," Hazarika said.

"Now about 150 tonnes of lac is produced in Assam and these are mostly harvested from the forest. In some districts such as Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur and Kokrajhar, a few farmers cultivate the host trees," Hazarika said.

Lac's demand has increased in the international market as nowadays the resin is used to coat fruits so that it retains its freshness for a longer period. Lac is also used in dyeing industry, agriculture (to coat neem or urea fertilisers) and pharmaceutical industry as a medicinal compound.

"Earlier, natural resin was used for making gramophone records, sealing purposes at post offices and in electrical fittings. When lac was replaced by plastic and other materials, farmers did not find it profitable for cultivation," Hazarika said.

The research will find out which species of lac produces the best and the largest quantity and which is the best host tree. After this the entomology department will multiply it and release the best strain to the farmers for commercial cultivation.

There are 44 recorded lac species in the world of which the Keria sinensis is found in Assam and Keria lacca in Jharkhand, besides other places with temperate climate.

A female lac insect produces resin in its body after sucking sap from the host plant. The male dies after mating. A female lays between 500 and 1,000 eggs.

Sources said the word "lakh" is derived from "lac" as one lakh insects are required to produce one pound of lac.