Lac Crop Harvesting and Processing

Abstract

Lac is the hardened resin secreted by the tiny lac insect which thrives on the cell sap of certain host plants. India is major lac producer country of the world and exports lac to several countries. Lac production involves pruning, inoculation, phunki removal, harvesting and lac scraping. Farmers perform these operations manually using traditional equipments. The traditional equipments need modification to increase the efficiency and ultimately the production. Some of the major uses of lac include lacquering, enamelling, sealing, polishes, insulations, medicines, gaskets, abrasives, adhesives etc. Lac dye isolated from the effluent water obtained during lac processing is used for colouring of cloth, animal fibres, soft-drinks, jam etc.

Lac as such has got utilization in various areas but the modification of its functional groups with some chemicals and synthetic resins, has resulted in its innumerable utilization in the area of surface coating, adhesives, electrical, food, leather, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Lac crop harvesting, processing, value addition, applications of lac, implements required for cultivation and processing, and role of lac in livelihood generation are described in the chapter.