Commercial Cultivation of Sea Buckthorn Berry to Begin in Ladakh

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with the Government of the Union Territory of Ladakh, will start commercial cultivation of sea buckthorn berry from the coming spring season in Ladakh.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Science & Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Earth Sciences; and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed this at a meeting with Lt. Governor of Ladakh, Mr. Radha Krishna Mathur.

He said that CSIR will also develop better harvesting machinery as currently only 10% of the berry is being extracted from the wild sea buckthorn plants.  Local entrepreneurs will be provided gainful employment through farming, processing, and marketing of about 100 odd products from sea buckthorn plants, such as jams, juices, herbal tea, vitamin C supplements, health drinks, cream, oils, and soaps, in a completely organic manner.

The immunity-boosting natural berry is getting increasingly popular not only in India but also abroad for its medicinal value. The ancient local Ladakhi Amchi medicine system also places a very high premium on the sea buckthorn berry and its curative properties. Reference to its medicinal properties has been found in the Tibetan literature of the 8th century AD, he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh referred to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s visit to Ladakh in May 2018, wherein the PM had advised for widespread cultivation of sea buckthorn and said it had the potential to revolutionize the economic scenario of the newly created Union Territory. The Lt. Governor apprised the Union Minister that it is very useful for armed force personnel deployed at a very high altitude, due to its antioxidant properties.

The Minister also announced that a high-level team of senior scientists from CSIR will soon visit Ladakh to evaluate the Zinc fortification project for pashmina goats, sheep, and yak and that the CSIR is considering launching a geothermal energy project.

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