Case Study on Lac Cultivation by Tribal Women in the Hinterland of Odisha: A Journey from Natural to Cultural
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25175/jrd/2025/v44/i3/174138Keywords:
lac cultivation, non-timber forest products, minor forest produce, tribal women, corporate social responsibility, sustainable livelihood, migration, SWOC analysis, OdishaAbstract
Odisha is a tribal-dominated state in India, with a Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of 23 per cent (Census 2011), who commonly reside in rural areas. Due to industrial mining activities, many villagers have lost their land, resulting in limited access to agricultural land and income. Women in these villages relied on the forest for their livelihoods, primarily by collecting non-timber forest products (NTFPs), such as sal leaves and mahua. The introduction of lac cultivation by various NGO partners and CSR interventions in 2018 brought a shift in their approach, recognising NTFPs as an essential sector for sustainable income. Around 40-60 per cent of tribals’ annual earnings, especially those of tribal women, come from the collection and sale of minor forest produce (TRIFED, 2020). This paper presents a longitudinal case study of lac cultivation by tribal women in the densely forested Scheduled Areas of Thakurani village, Kendujhar district. It examines how, through a CSR-supported intervention, the transition from opportunistic extraction of naturally occurring lac to structured, scientific, and market-oriented cultivation can be achieved. A Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Challenges (SWOC) analysis reveals that the promotion of NTFP in the study area, which was traditionally harvested in smaller quantities earlier, has changed the situation. This study highlights the crucial role that tribal women play in lac cultivation, thereby strengthening financial inclusion through bank linkages and savings behaviour, and reducing seasonal distress migration, which contributes to improved school enrollment among children.
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