Page 4 - NRG of commercial importance

It0lAl ll/sTlTlII 0t ltAtuRAt fltst s l t EUMS

Foreword

Resins and gums, commonly used in every day life, are having ample importance as non wood
forest produce. With a view to better utilize the inftastructure and provide R & D support to
entire sub+ector of natural resins, gums-resins, the Indian Council of Agdcultural Research
(ICAR), New Delhi has expanded the mandate of erstwhile ILRI. Besides continuing research
on al1 aspects of lac, the Institute would also undertake research on processing and ralue
addition ofall plant resins, gums and gum-resins.
India is a rich center of plant biodeversity having more than '15,000 plant species including
about 120 gum and resin yielding plants. Indonesia, India and China ate among the World's
major producers of gums and resins. India produces annually about 2,81,000 tons ofgums and
about 1500 tons ofgum-resins. Annual average export during 2001{2 to 2005-06 was Rs 7,848
million. This included Rs. 1,371 million of resins and Rs. 6,363 million of gums. India is
traditionally largest producer of lac, guar gum and karaya gum.
In rccent years, due to back to the nature trend there has been a revival of interest in natural
resins and gums extracted from forests by rural and tribal people who depend on these resources
to sustain theit livelihood. The gross value ofgoods and services provided by the forestry sector is
estimated at an average of Rs. 26,330 crores i.e. aboutZ-37o/o of GDP. of this recorded forest
revenue about 50 million population inhabiting forests and sub-forest areas and 707o of
employment in the sector is in minor forest produce (about 1.6 million mandays). It is and
admitted fact that neither the forests nor the nibals and poor inhabiting theses should be
removed for environmental protection. The only approach appeats to be developing minor
forest products like natural resins and gums based economic activities in these areas to uplift the
poor and maintain required forest cover or vegetation.

Gums and resins are low volume, high value produce. These can be processed to add value in
quality ?or higher returns. In some products value addition through pdmary processing alone
results in 3 times higher returns, Developing products of commercial use would further
augment retums, employment and export earnings.
I and sure that the basic information contained in this bulletin would be useful to
manufacturers, consumets and researchers working in the field of natural gums and resins. I
congratulate the authors in bringing out this bulletin.

June 26, 2008 Bangali Baboo
IINRG, Ranchi Director

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