Knowledge and adoption level of scientific lac cultivation at farmer's field: A case from eastern india

This study aimed to analyze the socio economic profile, potential of lac sector to generate employment and knowledge level about the scientific method of lac cultivation of the identified lac growers. Both secondary and primary data have been collected for this study. A total of 179 farmers from 60 villages of the 21 blocks of 5 districts of the state of Jharkhand were selected. Average land holding was observed 3.37 acres with an average annual income of ₹37289 from various sources including lac (₹ 4015/annum). More than 42 per cent households owned less than 2 acre land only and the highest trainees found in the age group between 21-30 years. Utilization of host trees for lac cultivation in the study area was observed 18.24, 6.82 and 3.09 per cent for Butea monosperma (Palas), Zizyphus mauritiana (Ber) and Schleichera oleosa (Kusum), respectively. This indicated a greater scope for increasing lac production by utilizing more lac hosts trees and creating gainful employment opportunities for the migrating rural population at local level.