Socio Economic Profile of Lac Growers in Mandla District of Madhya Pradesh, India

The study pertains to data collected from randomly selected 67 lac growers of 10 villages in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh for the year 2020-2021. The study indicates that more than 80% lac growers in Mandla district are small, semi medium and medium farmers. Majority of farmers (34.32%) belong to middle age group followed by young age group (31.34%). The study revealed that 59.7% lac growers have family members up to 5-7 and educated up to middle school level (40.3%). The resources endowment in terms of the availability of host trees for lac cultivation varies from >25 to <200 trees. In terms of production maximum lac growers (38.81%) average production of 70.91 kg followed by 16.42% had average production 124.28 kg, 16.42% had 38.18 kg average production. Amongst the different source of income of lac growers, Agriculture crop ranked 1st (50.62%) followed by Lac crop (22.9%). Income of selected farmers from lac crop in the study 31.34% farmers earn between Rs. 10,001-20,000 followed by 23.88% farmers between 5001 to 10000 and 23.88% farmers get upto 5000, 10.45% farmers earn more than 40001, 7.46% earn Rs 20001-30000 and only 2.99% farmers get between Rs. 30,000-40,000 annually from lac production. In term of income sharing the maximum number of the farmers (32.84%) contributed 10-20% while only 11.94% farmers contributed more than 40% by lac. Implications of the present study will be helpful in strengthening the socio-economic condition of lac growers and lac marketing scenario of Madhya Pradesh.

​Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.)]: New Promising Host of Lac [Kerria lacca (Kerr)] in Southern Rajasthan

Background: Lac is a resin secretion of insects [Kerria lacca (Kerr)], which are commercially cultivated through ages. Lac cultivation has its roots in India and a major source of economy to the local populace. Though different lac hosts have been recorded in Rajasthan, but it is not cultivated commercially. Pigeonpea crop could be utilized for encouraging lac cultivation in the region and yield losses can be compensated by additional income received from lac resin. Methods: The experiment on “Studies on Economics and Yield Attributing Parameters of Lac Cultivation on Yield of Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) in Southern Rajasthan” was conducted on Rangeeni strain of lac insect in Baisakhi season at lac insect gene bank cum garden situated at Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur during 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively. The life cycle of Rangeeni strain of lac insect were studied on pigeonpea sown in last week of August in plot size measuring 2 × 10 sq m during Baisakhi season of both year. Result: The study revealed that the mean initial settlement density of lac insect on pigeonpea ranged from 67.53 to 84.20 with 4.27 to 5.27 (per sq. cm) mature female cell density during successive years. The mean per cent settlement was found to be the maximum (91.78 and 91.15%) at lower portion of the pigeonpea plant during respective years. The duration of sex differentiation ranged from 48.23 to 49.10 days for both successive years. The benefit cost ratio was also higher (1.95 and 2.09) in lac inoculated experiment then the sole seed crop (control) of pigeon pea (1.84 and 1.35) in season 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. All the parameter revealed that pigeon pea is economically efficient host for the Rangeeni strain of lac in agro-climatic region of southern Rajasthan.

Extent and Pattern of Natural Occurrence of Lac Insect (Kerria lacca) and their Host Plants in different Agro-Climatic Zones of Bihar

Surveys were conducted in 28 districts of Bihar for occurrence of natural population of lac insect; Kerria lacca Kerr (Hemiptera, Tachardiidae), and abundance of its host plant. Naturally occurring lac insect was observed in 18 districts in varied proportion mostly on Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis and rarely on Ziziphus mauritiana and Butea monosperma. Majority of insects were found dead but at few places good live population were noticed. Natural occurrence of lac insect was found highly vulnerable to human interventions, high temperature and parasitoids and predators. Out of 17 districts of south Bihar, falling under zone III, 10 districts were found rich in naturally surviving lac insect. Lac insects in scattered manner were also observed in many districts of Northern Bihar but occurrence and population densities were very low. Survey revealed the abundance of lac host and natural population of lac insects in various districts of zone III (58%) of Bihar. These findings could open a new window for introduction lac cultivation in these areas for livelihood support to resource poor farmers, especially during off-agricultural season.

Livelihood Opportunities in Agri-Allied Sector for Rural Youth: A Case of Bargarh District in Odisha

There has been a lot of debate over employment and its opportunities in the recent times. With more number of reverse migrations occurring daily and lack of employment opportunities for the rural youth, there has been increasing concern about the entrepreneurial activities for rural youth and their involvement therein. However, for any agri-allied start-up, the opportunities and options available play a major role. Thus, a study was conducted on the livelihood opportunities available in agri-allied sector in Bargarh district of Odisha and to analyze the constraints faced by the respondents therein. The findings of the study revealed that majority of respondents (mean score=1.30) were engaged in vegetable vending business where as oil extraction unit (mean score=1.03) was least preferred. Dairy unit (mean score=1.19) in animal husbandry based inventories was preferred over others, engagement in forestry based inventories revealed collection of Mahua flower/fruit (mean score=1.09) was ranked first while Lac cultivation and processing ranked fourth (mean score=1.02). Major findings revealed that there was a need to overcome the constraints by access to agricultural implements and equipments at low price followed by availability of agricultural credit at proper time, correspondence of right information at right time by extension officers, conduction of extension activities viz, kisan mela, demonstration, exhibition, training, visits, training requirements on improved poultry farming, fish farming and livestock managements, facilitation of crop insurance, recommended information on seed and fertilizer at proper time, herbicides and pesticide in low price and provision of irrigation facility respectively. The study suggests that for effective participation of rural youth in native entrepreneurial activities, motivation is primarily required along with proper training and orientation about self employment programmes.

Profit Enhancement of Rice-based Production System through Lac Enterprise

Jharkhand agriculture a rainfed one characterized with ninety percent cultivable area monocropped with rice only. On one hand there is need to enhance productivity of agricultural crop, other hand priority should be given for profit enhancement. Lac is a major source of rural livelihood in Jharkhand. Major lac host species like Butea monosperma (palash), Zizyphus mauritiana (ber) and Schleichera oleosa (kusum)are available in plenty in forest as well as on own gravel upland which is otherwise not under cultivation and are wasteland. Diversifying the existing agriculture system through inclusion o lac not only enhances the profit margin of the production system but also developed entrepreneurial behavior of the main actor of the system. In this background lac cultivation interventions was introduced in rice based monocropping system. Inclusion of Lac on abandoned tree of Butea monosperma and Zizyphus mauritiana fetch good economic return to the farm families with net return of Rs. 25090 per hectare and Rs. 7480/ha respectively from kusumi lac on and rangeeni lac, whereas in upland rice net return was only Rs. 3804/ha. The benefit per rupee of investment is lowest in case of growing only rice with Rs. 2.08 and maximum benefit was Rs. 5.14 in case of lac on ber. Lac cultivation on different host trees were compaered and it was found that benefit per rupee of investment were Rs. 3.59, 4.83, and 2.41. and 2.08 respectively in rice with lac cultivation of rangeeni on palash, rice with kusumi lac on ber, rice with lac on palash and ber in alternate season and cultivation of only rice crop. Organizing Lac cooperative and input bank at kisan club proved a pivot in better management of produce and ensuring local availability of brood lac.

Impact of biotic and abiotic factors on lac production and peoples’ livelihood improvement in India-An overview

In India, Madhya Pradesh is the third largest lac producing state after Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, as they contribute 12, 16 and 60%, respectively in total country’s lac production. Lac is produced in ten out of eleven agro-climatic zones of Madhya Pradesh. In total lac production of the state, Baisakhi (Butea monosperma, inoculated in October-November) crop contributes 76% followed by 19% by Katki (Butea monosperma, inoculated in June-July), 3% by Aghani (Schleichera oleosa, inoculated in June-July) and 2% by Jethwi (Schleichera oleosa, inoculated in January-February). Ranchi was leading lac producing district followed by Simdega, Gumla, Khunti of Jharkhand and Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh. Increasing summer temperature up to 45 ⁰C, the country’s lac production was declined from 20,050 tons in 2003-04 to 16978 tons in 2014-15. In case of biotic factors, Tachardiaephagus tachardiae and Tetrastichus purpureus are the most abundant lac associated parasites and Eublemma amabilis and Pseudohypatopa pulverea are the most destructive key predators of lac insects. By combating these hindrances, lac cultivation generated an employment for 16-160 man days. Lac cultivation produces maximum gross return (Rs. 9,77,600) from 100 Kusum host plants, and the highest Benefit-Cost (6.80) ratio was recorded for Ber-kusumi (Ziziphus mauritiana- Schleichera oleosa) crop in Ranchi, Jharkhand. In this context, the study finds out obstacles in lac production of India and suggests some control measures to improve lac producing peoples’ livelihood.