The Geographical Indication Registry has officially granted the GI tag to ‘Ladakh Sea Buckthorn’.
- The Geographical Indication Registry operates under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Sea Buckthorn is one of the most profitable crop of UT Ladakh having 90 % production from Ladakh in India.
- This is the fourth GI tag from Ladakh. Earlier, Apricot (Raktsey Karpo), Pashmina, and Ladakhi Wood Carving were also granted GI tag.
About Sea Buckthorn
- The sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a deciduous shrub belongs to the family Elaegnaceae.
- The shrub has a vast area of natural growth in temperate regions of the world mainly in Mongolia, China, Tibet, Russia, Canada, India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
- The plant is hardy and it can withstand extreme temperatures from -43ºC to 40ºC and it is considered to be drought tolerant.
- Seabuckthorn berries are among the most nutritious of all fruits.
- Fruit juice is rich in sugar, organic acids, amino acids, essential fatty acids, phytosterol, flavonoids, vitamins and mineral elements.
- The plant is known as a remedy for horses.
- Ladakh remains the major site for natural Seabuckthorn resource with over 70% of the total area (13,000 ha) under Seabuckthorn in the country.
