The agriculture scientists came out with the suggestion to set up the brood lac nurseries in Madhya Pradesh to meet any eventually of shortage of brood lac on variation in atmospheric temperature during summer.
This year 75% of the lac production is affected due to sudden rise in temperature in the state.
Farmer Komal Singh Baghel from Barghat block in Seoni district said similar climatic heat condition prevailed in year 2009. Then the farmers sought help of the scientists of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (JNKVV) Jabalpur on how to keep the lac insect alive to ensure there is no shortage of broodlac for next season.
He said the scientists then told us (farmers) to ensure water is sprinkled regularly on the lac insect to keep it alive even on high climatic temperature.
Baghel said this year (2022) similar condition was experienced and some of the farmers have managed to keep about 5 – 10 quintals of lac insect alive at present.
Another farmer Sunil Chouhan said this year the prices per quintal of lac is higher comparative to last five years.
Therefore there is possibility of some farmers might sell out entire lac and for lac production in next season they take brood lac from other farmers, he said.
JNKVV principal investigator Dr. Moni Thomas have 25 years of experience in lac production has worked in different districts of Madhya Pradesh including Shahdol, Umaria, Seoni and Balaghat where farmers prefer for lac production with other crops simultaneously.
He said from the brood lac nurseries the farmers will get new lac insects that will enable to enhance the production than traditional method to use the brood lac available with them for multiple times.
There is production of Rangeeni Lac – Katki yield and price less and Baishakhi yield and price more. Kusmi Lac – Aghani yield and price less and Jetwi yield and price more.
Lac, a scarlet coloured resin secreted by a 0.50 millimeter size insect known as Kerria Lacca on 113 host trees and Lac is refined because of the commercial value of its finished product known as shellac used for several industrial uses, cosmetics and to polish fruits including apple.
Generally lac is harvested twice a year in month of May and October in Shahdol, Anuppur, Dindori, Mandla, Seoni, Balaghat, Narsinghpur, Hoshangabad, Chhindwara, Betul and Jabalpur districts.
