1st National Lac Insect Day conducted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18 2022:
Director of Research, Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal and ICAR- Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Jharkhand jointly organised the 1st National Lac Insect Day at the conference hall of College of Agriculture, CAU, Iroisemba today.
The function was graced by Professor S Basanta, Director of Research, CAU; Professor Indira Sarangthem, Dean, College of Agriculture; Professor Ph Ranjit, Director of Extension Education, CAU and Professor K Mamocha, Registrar, CAU as the chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
Professor Kh Ibohal, Head, Dept of Entomology, CoA, CAU addressed the gathering and said that the 1st National Lac Insect Day was organised with the aim of educating farmers about lac insects to increase their produce and improve their financial condition.
He highlighted the various uses of lac saying that they are used in the making of natural dye, engine gasket and many cosmetic items.
Lac is also used in making gramophone records, frames of eyeglasses, bangles and so on.
He further informed that since 2014, a project titled 'Conservation of Lac Insect Genetic Resources' had been initiated at CoA, CAU under ICAR-IINRG.
Professor Kh Ibohal continued to inform that lac insects thrive on china rose flowers and added these flowers can be used for both bee and lac insect rearing due to their high nectar content.
Towards the end of the function, farmers were shown various facilities such as the field gene bank and lac museum at the Conservation of Lac Insect Genetic Resources in the campus.