Mechanization of Lac Production - Vision and Challenges

Lac production is an important source of income for the farmers of the Chottanagpur plateau region. Theses economically poor farmers are not able to afford for costly equipment. Due to limite duse of locally made agricultural machines and equipment; more human labour is used for lac production operations. There is a shortage of agricultural labour in rural areas. They have migrated to factories, mines and urban areas. Use of low cost equipment/machines in lac production will overcome the labour problem ana will reduce human drudgery. The paper briefly discusses the different lac production operations, equipment used and the scope for further development.