BALCO’s Project Mor Jal Mor Maati boosts rural income through lac cultivation
7th February 2025
Balconagar, 7th February 2025 – Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a part of Vedanta Aluminium, conducted a lac training session under its lac cultivation program as part of its CSR initiative, Mor Jal Mor Maati. The project is in partnership with BAIF Development Research Foundation. This initiative aims to empower farmers by providing specialized training on lac cultivation, focusing on those who own host trees such as ber, kusum, and palash, which are ideal for this practice.
During each season, multiple sessions are held to reach as many farmers as possible. In the most recent session, over 100 farmers participated. Several more training sessions are planned, followed by lac seed distribution to kickstart the first harvest, ensuring that more farmers will benefit from this initiative in the coming weeks. By introducing lac cultivation as a secondary source of income, BALCO has helped generate an additional average income of ₹50,000 for over 400 farmers.
Chhattisgarh, a major lac producer, has faced fluctuating yields due to climate changes, with Korba once a key industry hub. In 2023, the Mor Jal Mor Maati initiative revitalized lac cultivation in the region by providing expert advice from the ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Ranchi, Jharkhand, on these modern practices. This has empowered local farmers and staff, making lac cultivation a sustainable and replicable practice. Farmers now share resources and cultivate together, with the initiative supplying brood lac. Cultivation occurs twice a year, once for seed generation and once for commercial production, resulting in increased output.
Lac has diverse applications in wood finishing, food, cosmetics, jewellery, and more. Beyond its commercial value, lac cultivation supports sustainable livelihoods for communities, promotes community-driven land management, and aids in biodiversity conservation. However, a lack of skills and knowledge has limited its growth. Adopting
scientific cultivation methods can boost productivity in existing lac-growing areas. Lac’s by-products, including resin, dye, and wax, are used in industries such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, adhesives, varnishes, and paints. Improved cultivation methods not only enhance profitability but also provide farmers with a more lucrative alternative to traditional crops.
Commenting on advancing agricultural practices in the region, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO of BALCO, said, “Through our Mor Jal Mor Maati project, we are focused on empowering farmers with modern techniques of cultivation, which provides an additional source of income, as well as promotes ecological balance. By equipping farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to adopt innovative practices, we are fostering long-term growth and supporting the livelihoods of rural communities. This commitment reflects our broader vision of driving economic progress and enhancing sustainability across all sectors.”
Amal, a local from Parsakhola village of Korba, shared his story of transformation, “Growing up in a farming family, I always thought of cultivating lac, as our village’s natural environment was perfect for it. However, due to financial constraints, I did not pursue my aspirations. That changed when I learned about the Mor Jal Mor Maati project. The initiative provided me with lac seeds and training at the Vedanta Agriculture Resource Centre in Bela. With the knowledge I gained, I started cultivating lac and earned a profit of around ₹80,000.”
The Mor Jal Mor Maati project focuses on supporting farmers through initiatives such as improving surface water management with existing resources, augmenting irrigation facilities, and promoting multi-cropping to reduce dependence on rainfall. It is also introducing farmers to new avenues such as lac cultivation, animal husbandry, horticulture, and non-timber forest produce, ensuring income generation round the year. The Vedanta Agriculture & Resource Centre (VARC) has also been set up as part of the project to complement these efforts through trainings and input support. To date, the project has impacted over 5,700 farmers, driving sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth.
About BALCO:
Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) is a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, operating a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium, i.e., 2.42 million tonnes in FY25. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. For more information, please log on to www.balcoindia.com
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About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil
& Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver,
Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa, Namibia, and
Australia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building.
Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong
focus on health, safety, and environment. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is
focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the
flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars have been set up as model anganwadis focused on
eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with
skill development. Vedanta and its group companies have been featured in Dow Jones
Sustainability Index 2020, and were conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020,
CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020, CSR Health Impact Award 2020, CII National
Award 2020 for Excellence in Water Management, CII Digital Transformation Award 2020, ICSI
National Award 2020 for excellence in Corporate Governance, People First HR Excellence Award
2020, ‘Company with Great Managers 2020’ by People Business and certified as a Great Place
to Work 2021. Vedanta’s flagship Nand Ghar Project was identified as best CSR project by the
Government of Rajasthan. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the
National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
