Chhattisgarh to provide free training, loans to farmers for lac cultivation

In Chhattisgarh, traditionally lac is cultivated with nearly 50,000 farmers rearing it on kusum and plum trees and rangini lac on palash and plum trees

The Chhattisgarh government will provide free training and loans to farmers to promote the cultivation of lac.

India is the largest producer of lac in the world, catering to over 70 per cent of the global demand.

Lac is found in the belt that stretches from Maharashtra to West Bengal with Jharkhand as the top producer, followed by Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.

Lac dye has been used since ancient times in India and neighbouring areas as wood finish, lacquerware, skin cosmetic, and for wool and silk.

In China, it is used as traditional dye for leather goods. Synthetic dyes