India News | Jharkhand Encouraging Lac Cultivation Among Rural Women to Boost Livelihood
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. The Jharkhand government is encouraging scientific cultivation of lac to empower women in villages as well as reviving the process in several regions through welfare projects, officials said.
Ranchi, Mar 30 (PTI) The Jharkhand government is encouraging scientific cultivation of lac to empower women in villages as well as reviving the process in several regions through welfare projects, officials said.
Around 73,000 farmers are engaged in lac production in the state, they said. “Scientific lac cultivation is transforming the lives of people living in remote rural areas of the state. It has also been revived in many areas through the Women Farmers Empowerment Project and Johar Project, while better market and price of lac is being ensured for farmers," an official statement said. Nearly 2,000 tonne of peel lac has been produced by farmers in 2021-22, it said.
A total of 460 collection units and 25 centres are operational across the state to facilitate sale of lac products.
"Efforts are underway to increase income of rural women of Jharkhand by connecting them with forest produce-based livelihood," the statement said, citing the example of Ranjeeta Devi of Rumkoot village in West Singhbhum district, who fetches an annual income of "up to Rs 3 lakh" from lac cultivation.
Also Read | Weather Forecast: Severe Heat Wave Predicted in Parts of Delhi Today and Tomorrow.
She has been cultivating lac using modern technology for the last few years, it said.
The Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society conducts a 25-day training session for women to help them understand the basics of lac cultivation. The eastern state is the country's leading producer of lac, which is primarily used as dye.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)