Residents of nine upazilas in Khulna and four upazilas in Satkhira have found a unique economic opportunity emerging from an unlikely, and somewhat unexpected source -- a type of tree resin known as lac.

Lac is a resinous secretion of a number of species of lac insects of the Kerriidae family, said Dr Md Rejaul Islam, professor of Agrotechnology at Khulna University.

In Khulna and Satkhira, these insects secrete the resin on raintree branches, which are collected by locals before they sell those at high prices to businessmen, who export the resin to different countries including India, China and South Korea.

Rejaul also said the harvested lac is crushed and sieved repeatedly to remove impurities and insect parts to be used as resin.

"The resulting product is called seedlac, which is widely used to as wood finish and lacquer, as well as for dyeing wool, silk and leather goods, in cosmetics, and different other purposes, including in juices and carbonated drinks, wine, jam, sauce, and candy. Lac is also used in folk medicine and anti-obesity drug," he added.

Around 6-10 kilogrammes of lac can be harvested from a mature tree.

Collectors primarily identify the insect infested raintrees. Then they climb on the trees with rope and other necessary instrument like sharp tools and scissors to chop down the infested branches. They then either sell the branches whole, or rub the resin off the branches and package it, to sell to local traders, fetching prices between Tk 350-500 per kg.

Many locals in the areas have been making a livelihood through collecting lac from the trees, while some are engaged in the trade part-time for extra earnings.

The search for lac insect-infested trees begins early in the morning, with the collectors often commuting across upazilas to this end.

Faruk Hossain of Nornia village under Khulna's Dumuria upazila in engaged in collecting lac. He travels across different villages in the upazila to buy lac-infested branches at different prices and takes those to warehouses for sale to traders.

"When I saw some collectors in Satkhira, at first I thought it was some sort of fraudulent activity. Later I came to know that this resin is very useful and can fetch good earning, so I started collecting as well. Now it has become my main profession," he said.

"In the early hours of the day, six of us go from one village to another to find lac-infested raintrees. In case of roadside trees we do not need to pay anything, but in case of trees owned by people, we have to pay Tk 500-2,000 for each tree to the owner,'' he also said.

"After collecting the branches during the day, we process those in the evening and then sell those to buyers. We can collect round 10-12 kg lac in a day and sell it for Tk 350 to 500 per kg,'' he added.

Abdul Malek of Kopilmuni area in Paikgachha upazila is also engaged in lac trading.

"Earlier, I was a wholesale trader of shrimp, but over the last three years lac trading has become my only business," he said.

"The price of the infested branches ranges from Tk 200-2,500 depending on the amount of lac on those. The workers who shave off the resin from the branches are paid Tk 40-50 per kg. The processed product is then sold for Tk 350-500 per kg. The price was earlier Tk 800-1,00 per kg, but higher supply in recent times drove the price down,'' he also said.

"We send the resin to Bogura, Feni and Kushtia via trucks to wholesales who export it abroad,'' Malek added

Abdul Hai of Satkhira Sadar upazila, an exporter, said he sells the resin to Indian traders for Tk 700-800 per kg.

Dumuria upazila agriculture officer Md Insad Ibne Amin said many locals are engaged in collecting the resin from trees and selling it to traders.

"Collecting the lac-infested branches does not affect the large tree trunks, but might damage smaller branches," he added.