THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, January 22: Kundri Lah Bagaan (KLB), the largest lac orchard in Palamu, will be rejuvenated to boost lac production and strengthen the rural economy, Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said on Wednesday.
Lac and kendu leaves are important economic resources of Palamu, but lac production and marketing have remained weak for years.
“KLB is the pride of Palamu. Its pristine glory will be restored,” the finance minister told Jharkhand Story Network.
“This revival will open new opportunities for rural development and significantly improve women’s livelihoods,” he added.
Earlier Five-Year Plan Failed to Deliver
A five-year plan launched in 2021 to enhance lac production, involving the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department and the Rural Development Department, failed to produce tangible results and has now ended.
Responding to concerns, Kishore said that DFO Medininagar Forest Division Satyam Kumar met him recently and detailed discussions were held on reviving KLB. He confirmed that the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) will play a major role in the revival.
Forest Department Assures Full Support
DFO Satyam Kumar, an IFS officer of the 2015 batch, said the forest division is committed to reviving KLB.
“The finance minister’s concern is highly appreciable. KLB must live up to its reputation as the region’s largest lac orchard,” he said.
The lac forest was handed over to JSLPS in 2020 for brood lac production. Kumar said JSLPS will aggressively promote KLB with full support from the forest department.
Low Production and Rampant Theft Hit Growth
During the five-year plan period, brood lac production remained low. About 2,476 kg was produced in 2021–22, which fell sharply to 633 kg in 2022–23, despite nearly 9,945 Palash host trees.
A JSLPS report admitted that rampant theft severely affected production and wasted investments made to enhance brood lac output.
Illegal Control by Vested Interests Alleged
District Programme Manager of JSLPS, Anita C. Kerketta, in a report dated December 12, 2025, stated that a small group is attempting to illegally control the entire KLB. These individuals are harvesting lac themselves while preventing genuine lac farmers from accessing the forest.
Unlike land or river encroachment, vested interests here are targeting Palash host trees and their inoculated lac produce.
Lac Now an Agricultural Produce
Lac is no longer classified as a forest produce but as an agricultural produce, allowing wider access to government loans and financial assistance.
Assuring financial support, the finance minister said,
“Funds will not be an issue. The project may require ₹50–60 lakh.”
Challenges in Making Lac an Alternative to Paddy
Whether lac cultivation can emerge as an alternative to paddy farming in Palamu remains uncertain. Popularising lac farming is crucial, but farmers are hesitant to move away from paddy, even from adopting millets like jowar, bajra and ragi.
Although Palash trees are abundant, brood lac is scarce. The destruction of Palash trees by unscrupulous elements continues to cause economic losses.
