author(s)
RK Gupta, Suheel Ahmad Ganai and Kamlesh Bali

abstract
Lac was found abundantly before 1947 and people used to collect and sell it commercially. Interestingly, this State (J&K) is bestowed with ample of lac host plants, therefore its cultivation can be revived for the benefit of farming community of the region by scientific cultivation through systematic intervention. In view of fast shrinking area of lac cultivation elsewhere in the country, the region has been earmarked as a “green area” for conservation of biodiversity of the lac insect ecosystem. Comparative field performance of Rangeeni lac insect of Jammu origin with Purulia (West Bengal) stock were made at Jammu by inoculating ten (10) ber plants each with 0.5 kg broodlac during first week of July 2008 (Katki) crop at Raya of district Samba of J&K could result in a produce of 107 kg broodlac which was harvested in late October with output-input ratio (21). Similar number of plants when inoculated with local brood (Akhnoor) of district Jammu (J&K) produced output-input ratio (18). Besides, twelve farmers were trained for brood lac production on Flamengia semialata as well. The potential growers were trained on state of the art technology on lac production including pruning, inoculation, crop protection, lac processing and brood production on Palas and Ber.