SRINAGAR: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday announced a 100 per cent increase in the procurement price of Sea Buckthorn, raising it from Rs 150 to a minimum of Rs 300 per kg this year, as the administration seeks to increase farmers’ earnings and develop the berry’s value chain in the region.
Saxena made the announcement while inaugurating the first two-day International Sea Buckthorn Conclave in Leh, which has brought together buyers, entrepreneurs, self-help groups, researchers and technical experts from India and abroad.
The conclave features around 20 buyers and nearly 120 MSME-registered entrepreneurs and SHGs associated with the Sea Buckthorn sector. Experts and participants from Mongolia, Vietnam and Arunachal Pradesh are also taking part in the event to discuss cultivation, harvesting, processing and marketing of the crop.
Saxena said the increase in procurement price was aimed at ensuring that a greater share of the economic value generated by Sea Buckthorn reaches farmers and local communities.
He said the administration was working on a comprehensive plan to establish a complete value chain in Ladakh covering cultivation, harvesting, processing, packaging and marketing.
Sea Buckthorn grows extensively in the wild across Ladakh, but harvesting remains a major challenge because the berries grow on dense, thorny bushes. According to the administration, only about 15 per cent of the annual crop is currently commercially utilised, with the remaining produce going to waste.
Saxena has directed officials to raise recovery to at least 50 per cent this year and achieve full utilisation of the available crop by next year through modern harvesting techniques.
“At present, Sea Buckthorn grows naturally across Ladakh, which often makes harvesting difficult for farmers. In coming times, we will be promoting the cultivation of Sea Buckthorn in a curated manner, so as to harvest maximum produce out of it,” Saxena said.
He said improving harvesting methods, value addition, packaging and market linkages would be critical to expanding the sector and meeting demand for Ladakh’s Sea Buckthorn.
Saxena also referred to the GI registration of Ladakh Sea Buckthorn and its inclusion under the One District One Product initiative for Leh district, saying these steps had helped strengthen its identity and market potential.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with giving Sea Buckthorn wider recognition after referring to it as a “Sanjeevani” during his Mann Ki Baat programme.
The L-G also said the Union Ministry of Agriculture had constituted a high-level committee to examine the establishment of a dedicated National Sanjeevani Research Centre in Nubra Valley. The proposed centre would focus on research, genetic improvement, propagation, harvesting and value addition of Sea Buckthorn.
During the inaugural event, Saxena also released a postal cover featuring Ladakh’s Sea Buckthorn.
The conclave is being held at Choglamsar forest rather than a conventional conference venue, allowing participants to observe Sea Buckthorn growing in its natural habitat and discuss challenges related to its harvesting and utilisation.
