Lac export to cross Rs 500 crore in five years

Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, Dec 31 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has said that projects for value addition of lac are being implemented in four districts in as many states with the objective to boost lac export to Rs 500 crore in the next five years.

''Lac worth about Rs 165 crore was exported during 2006-07 and efforts were being made to increase it to Rs 500 crore in the next five years'', he told newsmen here yesterday.

Pointing out that value addition of lac would help fetch more foreign exchange, Mr Ramesh said four districts--Purulia in West Bengal, Mayurbhanj in Orissa, Kanker in Chhattisgarh and Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh--had been selected for implementing intensive lac value addition projects.

He said these projects would be implemented through active participation of women self help groups.

Stating that Chhattisgarh was a traditional lac production state and ranked second in the country in terms of production, the union minister said it provided substantial income with very low input.

UNI