Kosa production in Sal forests and lac production in other trees of the forest are proving to be a good source of income for forest dweller families, officials informed on Sunday.
Resident of Tambeshwar village in Balrampur-Ramanujganj district of State, Jaigovind along with the members of self-help group formed by him not only produce Kosa and Lac but also ensure security for the forest dwellers.
Jaigovind earns nearly Rs 9,000 in one season from Kosa and Lac. He has bought smart phone, and now saving up to purchase television and two-wheeler vehicle.
He said that after buying two-wheeler, he will further expand this work and will commute to other villages to encourage and train people in this work.
Manikchand, father of Jaigovind, told that earlier small farm was the only source of income for them. After Jaigovind got bicycle under Mukhyamantri Cycle Sahayta Yojana, he never looked back. Daily he would go on riding his bicycle to explore the sources of additional income.
He took information and training from Forest Department and started kosa and lac production work. He trained 20 youth from three villages situated near his village and formed a self-help group.
This self-help group started lac and kosa production from year 2014 and in that year only four quintals of lac was produced. In year 2016-17, 40 quintals of lac bihan and 12 quintals of kosa has been produced.
Jaigovind informed that lac bihan is sold at the rate of Rs 150/kg and kosa is sold at Rs 2/unit. Mr. Jaigovind and his companions Shrinath, Jheemal Poya and others were giving demo of kosa and lac production in Tendupatta Tihaar organized in Dohna village of Shankargarh block of Balrampur district on December 5.