Harvesting, Processing and Value Addition of Natural Resins & Gums

All India Network Project on Harvesting Processing and Value Addition of Natural Resins and Gums

The Network Project on Harvesting, Processing and Value Addition of Natural Resins and Gums was launched on 9^th February, 2009 as an outreach activity of institute to carry out the location-specific and multidisciplinary research on different aspects of resins and gums. It has been established at ICAR- National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Ranchi to facilitate the management of various gums and resins related technologies developed by the institute and their respective centres and natural resins and gums (NRGs) related issues. The progress of the project is reviewed in Annual Workshop held every year at different locations.

The main aim of the project is to emphasize on enhancing the quantity and quality as also on developing and standardizing techniques to increase the harvest of gums and resins, and their processing, handling, and storage. Keeping in view the immense potential of these natural, non-toxic and bio-degradable products of social, livelihood and industrial importance, the ICAR decided to include these as part of the regular research programs in the form of network project.

In order to address the harvesting, processing and value addition of region-specific gums and resins, an outreach program in a network mode was sanctioned during XI^th Plan with NISA, Ranchi as lead center and six other network co-operating centers. The network project in XI^th Plan covered the aspects of harvesting/ tapping, processing and value addition of three gums (guar gum, karaya gum and gum arabic), one resin (pine resin) and one gum resin (guggul). Apart from these gums and resins covered under the network project during XI^th Plan, there are other gums and resins of commercial importance which need R&D attention. Hence three more centers have been included in the project in XII^th Plan to look after these gums and resins (Tamarind seed gum, Dammar and Khasi Pine resin).

Objectives

• To study production, processing, marketing and utilization of region-specific resins (except lac), gums and gum-resins
• To develop and standardize protocols for harvesting and collection
• To improve/ refine the primary processing techniques for enhanced recovery and quality
• To improve the process and machinery for making value added products in collaboration with NISA, Ranchi
• To transfer the resin, gum and gum- resin specific technologies in the region

Location of the Co-operating Centres

ICAR Institutes

1. National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Namkum (Ranchi)
2. Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
3. Central Agro-Forestry Research Institute, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)

State Agricultural Universities

1. Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan (Himachal Pradesh)
2. Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
3. Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani (Maharashtra)
4. Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh)
5. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
6. Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur (Kerala)

Center wise NRGS based crop activity assigned