First ‘Sea buck thorn’ processing project in villages of Pithoragarh on Indo-China border
First ‘Sea buck thorn’ processing project in villages of Pithoragarh on Indo-China border
B.D. Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Feb 16
With an aim to explore the medicinal qualities of another Himalayan wonder plant namely ‘Sea buck thorn’, Uttarakhand forest department, for the first time has started training villagers living in high Himalayan valleys on plantation and processing of ‘Sea buck thorn’ fruits, to be sold to tourists visiting high Himalayan region.
“The programs will also increase medicinal tourism in high Himalayan border villages at Indo-China border and help check migration from the area,” said Ashutosh Singh, District Forest Officer (DFO), Pithoragarh.
‘Sea buck throne’ berries are rich source of Vitamin C, which also contains, anti-occident, anti cancer and immunity booster properties while the oil from its seeds is used by indigenous Himalayan population as anti aging ingredient, ” said Vijay Bhatt, a forest officer in Munsiyari range of Pithoragarh forest division.
“We have provided training on ‘Sea buck thorn’ to villagers of nine villages of Dharchula range of our division. The training was provided by scientists of National Medicinal Plants Board in their respective villages, “said Ashutosh Singh, DFO, Pithoragarh.
The project is being implemented with financial and technical support of National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi.
‘Sea buck thorn’(Hippo pae rhamnoids) is a hardy shrub with thorny branches that yields bright yellow and orange berries. It is a plant that grown at 13000 to 18000 feet high altitude and is found from northern and central Europe to Caucasian range, western Asia, China, Ladakh and other Himalayan region of India.” It is known by different names in Indian Himalayan region, as it is known as Leh berries in Ladhak, Amesh in Joshimath region of Uttarakhand, Charma in Himachal Pradesh and Chokh in Munsiyari valley,” said Vijay Bhatt.
“The plant berries were used to dense hair and weight in horses by ancient Europeans, it can bear minus 45 degree Celsius temperatures and can grow from 1 meter to 10 meters of height,” said Vijay Bhatt.
According to the DFO, that the project to plant ‘Sea buck thorn’ and to process it’s berries for medicinal uses will be started soon in these villages.” The project has two phases of planting and processing. The seed stores for ‘Sea buck thorn’ seeds and plants to process the berries will soon be established in these villages,” said the DFO.
