Raipur : Now Lac producing farmers in Chhattisgarh can also avail the benefits of short-term agriculture loan facility and interest subsidy | newsforum
Raipur | As per the announcement of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, lac production has been given the status of agriculture practice in Chhattisgarh. State Government has issued the order to provide benefits of short-term agriculture loan and interest subsidy to lac producing farmers and farmers groups as well, based on their agricultural crops.
The order issued in the context by Joint Secretary, Department of Agricultural Development, Farmers Welfare and Biotechnology, states that farmers or farmers groups should be provided short term agricultural loan at the prescribed debt scale for production and primary processing of lac crops such as safflower, palash, plum, etc.. They will also be given interest subsidy on short-term agricultural credit as per the rules.
It is noteworthy that there are immense possibilities of lac cultivation in Chhattisgarh state. Lac has traditionally been cultivated by the farmers on safflower, palash and plum trees. But due to lack of lac production in a systematic and modern way, the farmers do not get the expected benefits in lieu of cost. Hence, Forest Department has sent a proposal to Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, suggesting that the lac farming should be given the status of agricultural practice, so as to make it a profitable practice for the farmers and to also provide them the facilities of loans and interest subsidies. To which, Chief Minister has given his consent.
About 50 thousand farmers in Chhattisgarh will get directly benefitted from this important decision of state government. The state currently produces 4500 tonnes of lac. Tribal and forest dwellers are engaged in large scale cultivation of lac, and there are good prospects for its cultivation in the state. As result of this decision taken by state government, the facility of short-term agricultural loans to farmers will further boost the cultivation and productionof lac. In addition, the production of lac in the state will increase up to 10 thousand tons.
