R S Sharma calls for scaling up of the lac pilot projects in the state

Ranchi, Jan 28 : Chief Secretary R S Sharma today directed for identification of a networking system for marketing broodlac. He said that value-additions must be provided to the farmers involved in lac production.

The Chief Secretary said this at a meeting at the Project Building, which discussed the prospects of lac promotion in Jharkhand.

The Chief Secretary suggested scaling up of the lac pilot projects in the state. He said that there is a need of feasible and viable ecosystem by which a fair share of profit is provided to all the stakeholders for sustenance of the projects.

At the meeting Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Director Dr. R. Ramani suggested said that reliable marketing channels were required for promotion of lac.

Senior Associate of Upaya Social Ventures, Ms. Jyotsna Taparia emphasized on providing support to the vulnerable group of people involved in the sector. She said that there was abundant scope for market led community enterprise in Lac.

She said that as Jharkhand contributes 60% national lac production to the country it had a unique opportunity to revolutionize the nature of the sector and the lives of thousands of tribal farmers.

Development Officer of Marketing, Jharkhand State Co-operative Lac Marketing & Procurement Federation Ltd. (JASCOLAMPF) Praveen Kumar at the meeting presented the draft vision document on Lac. He said that there is scope of convergence between the departments and agencies for overall development of Lac in the state.

JASCOLAMPF Managing Director Sunil Kumar, Managing Director , Jharkhand State Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Development and Marketing Federation Managing Director J.P. Sharma along with other officials were present at the meeting.