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Indigenous lac culture and local livelihood: a case study of <em>Karbi</em> community of Assam, North-Eastern India

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Title Statement Indigenous lac culture and local livelihood: a case study of <em>Karbi</em> community of Assam, North-Eastern India
 
Added Entry - Uncontrolled Name Garkoti, S C
Borah, Nepolion
 
Uncontrolled Index Term Host plants; Indigenous knowledge; Livelihood; Market value; Non Timber Forest Product; Sticklac
 
Summary, etc. <p>The indigenous lac culture of <em>Karbi</em> community inhabiting West Karbi Anglong district of Assam is highlighted in this paper. A total of 114 knowledge holders were identified through chain referrals method from three representative villages of Ameri Block for the study. <em>Karbis</em> reared lac insects twice in a year on naturally growing host plants either in the forest areas or in homegardens. A total of eight unique host plants except <em>Ziziphus mauritiana</em> and <em>Ficus </em><em>religiosa</em> were observed to be used by the community for rearing lac insect. They preferred bigger host plants such as<em>, Ficus benghalensis</em>,<strong> </strong><em>F. </em><em>religiosa</em> and <em>Albizia lucidior </em>due to higher lac yield and lesser labour requirement. An individual <em>F. </em><em>religiosa </em>and <em>F. benghalensis</em> tree could produce about 120-200 kg of sticklac in a season.<strong> </strong>The average annual household production of sticklac ranged from 679 to 776 kg in the studied villages and contributed to about 25-30% of annual household income. <em>Karbis</em> traditionally use lac as natural dye, binding agent, polishing earthen pots and also as medicine for chest and joint pains. Factors like uncertain production, high fluctuation in market prices and unorganized nature of the venture have been identified as the major constraints for the sustainability and up-scaling the practice.</p>
 
Publication, Distribution, Etc. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK)
2019-12-27 15:01:53
 
Electronic Location and Access application/pdf
http://op.niscair.res.in/index.php/IJTK/article/view/30868
 
Data Source Entry Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK); ##issue.vol## 1, ##issue.no## 1 (2020): Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
 
Language Note en