Asia’s Largest Lac Plantation in Palamu to Be Revived

Asia’s largest lac plantation located at Kundri village in Lesliganj block of Palamu district is set to be revived following a renewed initiative by the Jharkhand government. Spread over 421 acres and home to nearly 90,000 palash trees, the plantation is expected to play a key role in strengthening the rural economy and creating large-scale employment opportunities.

The plantation comes under the jurisdiction of the Jharkhand Forest Department, while lac production activities are handled by the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS). Production had remained suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic, despite a formal agreement signed between the two agencies in 2019–20.

Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore recently visited the site, assessed the current condition of the plantation, and interacted with officials and villagers. He directed the departments concerned to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and formulate a structured revival plan. Officials said multiple rounds of consultations are underway to ensure sustainable operations and long-term security of the plantation.

The minister said reviving Asia’s largest lac plantation would boost state revenue, generate employment for local communities and establish Palamu as a major centre for lac-based industry. He also assured that entrepreneurs willing to set up lac processing units would receive government support.

According to estimates, the Kundri plantation has the potential to generate an annual business turnover ranging between Rs 70 crore and Rs 100 crore once full-scale production resumes. Currently, around 663 women associated with self-help groups and several local farmers are linked to the project. The revival is expected to directly benefit thousands of residents from more than six surrounding villages.

Security remains one of the key challenges. The plantation is open from all sides and lacks fencing, which earlier led to large-scale theft of lac before the pandemic. The government is now planning to fence the entire area and construct protective trenches to prevent encroachment and pilferage.

Local farmers have welcomed the move. Sunil Kumar Choudhary said the large number of palash trees makes the plantation highly suitable for quality lac production, while another farmer, Dinesh, said the project would bring long-term livelihood security to several villages.

Lac is a natural resin secreted by the insect Laccifer lacca, which thrives on palash, kusum and ber trees. It is widely used in bangles, cosmetics, jewellery, sealing wax, varnish, ink and specialised cement. The production cycle generally takes four to six months.

India is the world’s largest producer of lac, with a national research centre located in Ranchi. The revival of the Kundri lac plantation is expected to strengthen Jharkhand’s position in lac production and provide a significant boost to Palamu’s rural economy.