Context: Recently, Ladakh has secured its fourth Geographical Indication (GI) tag, this time for “Ladakh Sea Buckthorn.”

• Sea Buckthorn is a highly profitable crop in Ladakh, with 90% of its production coming from the region.

About Sea buckthorn

• It is a shrub that produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry.

• In India, it is found in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti.

• Ladakh remains the major site for sea buckthorn with over 70% of the total area (13,000 hectares) on which it is present in the country.

• The Sea Buckthorn Plantation has many Ecological, Medicinal and Economical benefits.

• Sea buckthorn is grown completely organically without the use of any pesticide or other chemicals in Ladakh.

• Farmers face major difficulty in harvesting the berries due to the thorn in the bushes on which they grow.

Local Names

• In Ladakh, it is popularly known as the ‘Wonder Plant’, ‘Ladakh Gold’, ‘Golden Bush’, or ‘Gold Mine’ of cold deserts.

• In Himachal Pradesh, it is locally called Himalayan chharma.

Medicinal Benefits

• Used as a medicine for treating stomach, heart, and skin problems.

• Rich in vitamins, carotenoids, and omega fatty acids.

• It can also help in acclimatizing to high-altitude.

Ecological Benefits

• Important source of fuelwood and fodder.

• It is a soil-binding plant that prevents soil erosion. Furthermore, it checks siltation in rivers and helps preserve floral biodiversity.

• Example: In the Lahaul valley, Seabuckthorn is a good alternative for protecting the local ecology. Willow trees there are dying in large numbers due to pest attack.

Commercial Benefits

• Used in making juices, jams, nutritional capsules among others.

• It is also used in the manufacturing of cosmetics and anti-ageing products.