The first solar powered lac processing unit of the State was inaugurated by Dr KK Sharma (Director, Indian Institute of Natural Resin and Gum – IINRG), Devendra Singh (Managing Director, Jharkhand State Cooperative Lac Marketing and Procurement Federation Limited) – JASCOLAMPF), Dr. Nirmal Kumar, (Head – Production, Extension and Management Division IINRG), Prem Kumar Anand, Project Manager, ICICI Foundation), AmitAnjan, (Center In-charge, ICICI Academy), Priyaranjan (Manager, ICICI Bank) ) and Lalita Devi (Chairman, Nature Lac Producer and Processing Group, Silda) jointly in Khunti on Wednesday. More than 200 lac producing farmers participated in the programme. With the launch of the lac processing unit, there is an atmosphere of euphoria among the local farmers.
Dr. KK Sharma (Director, IINRG), while encouraging the farmers said that farmers have to move forward in the field of production as well as processing to increase their income. He said that by adopting training and new techniques, farmers can double their income from lacquer farming. Dr. Nirmal Kumar, Head – Production, Extension and Management Division, IINRG told the farmers about the scientific method of lac farming and said that adopting new techniques, lacquer farming ensures your yield. Devendra Singh (Managing Director, JASCOLAMPF), while encouraging the farmers said that he is ready to provide all possible help to the farmers in strengthening their market linkage and marketing.
Shruti and Prakash (Development Officer, ICICI Foundation) informed that with the aim of processing lac locally, ICICI Foundation has formed Prakriti Lac Producer and Processing Group, Silda (Khunti) (18 of lac growers group) in setting up the district's first solar-powered 100 kg capacity lacquer processing unit. For the smooth operation and marketing of the unit, the training and capacity building of the members is being done by the experts of Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Ranchi. The unit will not only provide fair price to the lac growers for their lacquer produce but will also provide employment to the trained members. The unit will be operated and managed by Prakriti Lac Producing and Processing Group, Silda. It is proposed to set up 3 new lac processing units in the year 2022.
Amit Anjan, Center In-charge, ICICI Academy) informed that after 10th and 12th, those youths, who were being deprived due to lack of resources are being linked with employment by providing them employable training.
Local farmers, including project members Reema, Ganesh, Vijay, Tarun, played an important role in making the program a success. Vote of thanks was given by Satyavati Devi (Secretary, Nature Lacquer Producer and Processing Group, Silda).
