Chouri-parta method of estimating seedlac yield

Abstract

Chouri-parta method of estimating seedlac yield from sticklac is an old method practiced in lac industries/trade. In most of places, chouri-parta is determined based on yield of golden seedlac (impurity-2% max.) obtained from samples of raw material taken through indigenous sampling method. The price of raw material (sticklac) may be finalized and paid to producer/ supplier on the basis of yield of golden seedlac obtained and price of golden seedlac. Seedlac is a semi-refined product obtained from sticklac through primary processing operations like crushing, washing drying, winnowing and grading for its further use in making different value added lac products. The raw material reaches to processing unit crop and season wise like aghani and jethwi for kusmi crop and baisakhi and katki for rangeeni crop mostly through middleman called arhatiya. It varied in terms of wooden material, impurity and to some aspect quality also results in different yield of seedlac. The yield of seedlac from kachha lac is 50-60% in kusmi and 35-45% in rangeeni whereas from pucca lac it is 60-75% in kusmi and 45-55% in rangeeni. This method of yield determination from a stick lac sample gives fair estimation of seedlac recovery agreed by both suppliers and buyers (processing industries) of sticklac.