A team of scientific and technical officers from ICAR-Indian Institute of Natural Resin and Gums, Ranchi visited Sildah village in Khunti district under the "Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav" programme on Thursday. The team contacted farmers engaged in lac production, self-help women groups and local officials from the villages. During this programme, Dr. Achintya Pramanik, scientist, discussed the importance of lac host plant diversification for sustainable lac production. He also made the lac growers aware about the new bushy host plant Calliandra calothyrsus and emphasized about the proper and scientific management of pests and diseases of lac crop to get maximum benefit. Dr. Roy Chowdhury, scientist, discussed soil fertility management for raising healthy lac host plants and also advised the farmers to follow integrated nutrient management. Dr. C Jamkhokai Mate, scientist, discussed the different application areas of lac resin and also emphasized about the economic benefit of lac cultivation. Vidyapati Vidyakar, Technical Assistant discussed the scientific lac cultivation in different lac host plants. More than 25 farmers from Sildah village participated in this program and showed their interest for lac cultivation on bushy lac host plant Calliandra calothyrsus. The team distributed 150 saplings of bushy lac host plant Calliandra calothyrsus among the farmers.
