Hailed as “Sanjeevani” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat programme, the Ladakh administration has taken a significant step to boost production of sea buckthorn, the wonder berry of the cold desert, by raising its procurement price.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena announced that the procurement price of sea buckthorn has been increased from ₹150 per kg last year to a minimum of Rs 300 per kg this year — a 100 per cent rise.
Procurement Price Doubled to Boost Farmers’ Incomes
Inaugurating the first two-day International Sea Buckthorn Conclave in Leh on Friday, Saxena said the substantial increase in procurement price is aimed at raising the income of farmers and local communities engaged in sea buckthorn production.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also released a postal cover featuring Ladakh’s sea buckthorn, underscoring the recognition of the region’s distinctive natural resource and its growing identity.
PM’s ‘Sanjeevani’ Remark Fuels National and Global Interest
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public commendation of sea buckthorn as a modern “Sanjeevani” during his Mann Ki Baat radio programme has catalysed major domestic and global expansion for the Himalayan super-fruit. By highlighting its intense medicinal properties, high-altitude resilience and dense nutritional profile, the crop has transitioned from a wild, under-utilised resource into a globally acknowledged asset.
The Sea Buckthorn Conclave 2026 is bringing together 20 top buyers and around 120 MSME-registered entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) involved in the sea buckthorn ecosystem, along with technical experts, scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs from Mongolia, Vietnam and Arunachal Pradesh. The gathering provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge and learn from experiences in developing sea buckthorn as an economic resource.
Inaugurated the first International Sea Buckthorn Conclave in Leh today, aimed at enhancing the production of Sea Buckthorn, increasing farmers’ income and strengthening the complete value chain around the Ladakh’s “wonder berry”.
Pleased to announce a landmark decision to… pic.twitter.com/Xv11i3PNme
— LG Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) September 18, 2026
From 15% to 100%: Drive to End Massive Crop Wastage
Currently, wild sea buckthorn grows in dense, thorny bushes, making extraction so difficult that almost 85 per cent of the annual crop is wasted.
To improve the stark 15 per cent commercial utilisation rate, Lieutenant Governor Saxena has directed that crop recovery be raised to at least 50 per cent this year, with a strict target of achieving 100 per cent utilisation by next year through the adoption of modern harvesting techniques.
This is essential to meet the growing demand for sea buckthorn across the country. He stressed that improved harvesting techniques, value addition, packaging and market linkages are crucial to achieving this goal.
“At present, sea buckthorn grows naturally across Ladakh, which often makes harvesting difficult for farmers. In the coming times, we will promote the cultivation of sea buckthorn in a curated manner so as to harvest the maximum produce. A comprehensive action plan is being chalked out to develop a complete value chain within Ladakh — right from cultivation, harvest, processing, packaging and marketing — so that a larger share of the economic value reaches the local farmers, entrepreneurs and communities,” Saxena said.
Harvesting Challenges and Institutional Support
Saxena highlighted harvesting as one of the major challenges confronting sea buckthorn farmers in Ladakh. At present, much of the resource grows naturally, and extracting berries from thorny bushes is difficult, labour-intensive and time-consuming, resulting in significant loss of produce.
Thanking the Prime Minister for giving international recognition to sea buckthorn by calling it a “Sanjeevani” during his Mann Ki Baat programme, the Lieutenant Governor said the GI registration of Ladakh sea buckthorn was an important milestone in establishing its identity, authenticity and brand value in national and international markets.
He also noted its inclusion under the One District One Product initiative for the Leh district, which has provided further impetus to the sector.
National Research Centre and Unique Conclave Setting
Notably, the Union Ministry of Agriculture, on the request of Lieutenant Governor Saxena, has constituted a high-level committee to examine the establishment of a dedicated National Sanjeevani Research Centre in Nubra Valley for research, development, genetic improvement, propagation, harvesting and value addition of sea buckthorn.
Breaking away from conventional conference halls, the Sea Buckthorn Conclave has been hosted amidst the natural ambience of the Choglamsar forest, where sea buckthorn grows extensively. This provides delegates with an immersive, on-ground experience of the plant’s native habitat and natural growth patterns.