By Our Correspondent
Jhapa, Dec. 24
An industry to produce resin using modern technology has been set up in Gauradaha of Jhapa.
Dambar Bishowkarma of Gaurahadaha Municipality-2 has established the industry to produce international level resin using the modern technology.
The industry is producing resin by refining raw materials produced from insects, locally called laha.
According to Bishowkarma, he has been producing 1,000 kilograms of resin every month.
“We can increase the production if the availability of raw materials increase. This is the first ever industry set up in Neal to produce resin (Laha) in the country,” he said.
Proprietor Bishowkarma said that they were collecting raw materials required for the production of resin from different districts, including Bhojpur, Terhathum and Dhankuta.
The raw materials for producing resin will be produced after completion of the lifecycle of Laha insects. The insects take six months to complete its lifecycle, he said.
The trees of Kusum, Khayaar, Bayar, Mauha Sishir are the ones where these insects which Laha or wax.
“We will crush the laha with the help of modern machine and dry it by washing and grinding it. We bake it before producing the resin,” he said.
The production of resin could not be commercialised in Nepal even there is a high feasibility of this raw materials required for producing resin due to lack of processing machines.
There is no need of land for the production of Laha as the insect produces lahaa if it is put on the trees, he added.
The resin produced from insect excretion is used as a polish for furniture, he said, adding that the same is also used for making jewellery and statue.
A large amount of resin is being imported from abroad, including India for domestic uses. The price of resin is Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000 per kilogram in Nepal. However, the price of raw materials used for making resin is only Rs. 300-Rs.400 per kilogram.
Under the Forest based-entrepreneurship Development Programme, the Forest Division Office, Jhapa, had provided washing machine worth Rs. 400,000 in subsidy to him after he initiated to establish the industry for producing resin.
He established the industry by investing around Rs. 2,000,000.
He has now been able to earn a handsome profit from the business and he has become an example for the people to be an entrepreneur.