Parliament Question: Lac Industry in District Purulia in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3883 ANSWERED ON 11/08/2026 LAC INDUSTRY IN DISTRICT PURULIA IN WEST BENGAL 3883. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the potential of Purulia district, West Bengal for the development of the lac industry, considering its significant lac production, tribal population and scope for value addition and exports, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has any proposals to establish a Lac Processing and Value Addition Centre, Testing Laboratory, Common Facility Centre or Export Facilitation Centre in Purulia to strengthen the lac value chain, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether any financial assistance, technology support, skill development, branding and market linkage initiatives have been extended to lac growers, Self- Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations and entrepreneurs in the district during the last five years, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has prepared any roadmap to promote exports of lac and lac-based products from Purulia under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative or any other Central scheme, if so, the details thereof; and (e) the measures proposed to be taken by the Government to develop Purulia as a national hub for lac production, processing and exports? ANSWER वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA) (a) India produced about 21,272 tonnes of lac during 2025-26 and exported about USD 174 million worth of lac and its value-added products during the same period. (Previous three years production and exports are given at Annexure). The Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (SHEFEXIL), which is the nodal Export Promotion Council under the Department of Commerce for promotion of exports of Non-Timber Forest Produce, including lac and its value-added products, has assessed the potential of Purulia district, West Bengal, for the development of the lac industry. As per the assessment, Purulia is one of the important lac-producing districts in the country and a substantial tribal population in the district are engaged in lac cultivation. As per the records of the District Industries Centre, Purulia, lac cultivation is undertaken over about 700 hectares across 12 of the 20 blocks of the district. (b) to (e) Key initiatives undertaken for the welfare of lac growers in the districts include financial assistance for establishment of a lac-based Van Dhan Vikas Kendra at Balarampur block of Purulia district under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (through TRIFED), 1aimed at promoting value addition and livelihood generation in the lac sector; and formation of 23 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Purulia district under the Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs. Further, key initiatives undertaken by the Government for development of the lac sector and promotion of exports of lac and its value-added products, including from Purulia district, are as under: (i) The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) being implemented by the Department of Commerce, aims to strengthen India’s export competitiveness through targeted financial and trade facilitation interventions. The Mission operates through two integrated sub- schemes: (1) Niryat Protsahan, which focuses on improving access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, credit guarantee and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets; and (2) Niryat Disha, which focuses on non-financial enablers that enhance market readiness and competitiveness, including export quality and compliance support, assistance for international branding, packaging and participation in trade fairs, export warehousing and logistics, inland transport reimbursements, and trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives. The benefits under the Mission are available to exporters across sectors, including exporters of lac and lac-based products from Purulia district. (ii) Under the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce, the export potential of districts is identified and promoted through District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) and District Export Action Plans (DEAPs). Purulia district has been identified under the DEH initiative, and the DEAPs are prepared in coordination with Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments and district-level stakeholders, and are aligned with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. (iii) A number of export promotion initiatives have been undertaken, inter alia including the organisation of Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs) and Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSMs), as well as participation of exporters in national and international exhibitions and trade fairs. Key events over the last three years include the Bharat Nutraverse Expo (New Delhi), Vitafoods Europe (Geneva/Barcelona), Food Ingredients Europe (Frankfurt), and SupplySide West (Las Vegas, USA). These initiatives aim to connect Indian exporters of non-timber forest produce, including lac and its value-added products, with global buyers. (iv) The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has established 65 Export Facilitation Centres (EFCs) across the country, including four in West Bengal, namely, Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC), Kolkata; MSME Testing Centre, Kolkata; Branch MSME-Development and Facilitation Office, Siliguri; and MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Kolkata. These Centres provide mentoring, handholding and export-related support to MSMEs across the State to facilitate their participation in international trade. Annexure India’s Production of Lac and Exports of Lac & Lac-based Products (2023-24 to 2025-26) Year Lac Production (in tons) Export value (USD Millions) 2023-24 20,332 148.98 2024-25 22,149 160.55 2025-26 21,272 173.87 Source: DGCIS and SHEFEXIL ***** 2