Mining Indian Cold-Desert-Gold: The Seabuckthorn for Health and Sustainable Development

The geopolitical situation warrants rapid and sustainable development in the cold desert regions of India, particularly at high-altitudes of Himalayas. However, the difficult terrain, inclement weather, extreme temperatures, low precipitation, intense solar radiation, all  put together, challenge the traditional cultivation and job opportunities in such regions, thereby slowing growth and economic progress. These factors necessitate management and efficient use of natural resources through inclusive policies to strengthen the economy and promote growth. Seabuckthorn, a multipurpose dioecious shrub bearing orange- to yellow-coloured berries, has been growing abundantly in the Himalayan wilderness since the 8th century and is well adapted to the region’s harsh climatic conditions. Its berries and leaves offer significant pharmacological value, aligning traditional medicinal knowledge with modern scientific validation. Across the world, Seabuckthorn is gaining increasing recognition for its remarkable economical, ecological and pharmacological potential, rightly earning it the title “Cold-Desert-Gold”. Leading market research agency Stratistics MRC, forecasted Seabuckthorn global market to reach USD 890.7 million by 2030 at CGAR of 12.1%. It is noteworthy that the Indian Seabuckthorn market, though has remained nascent so far, yet demonstrates considerable potential for expansion. This paper briefly reviews the diverse uses of Seabuckthorn and opines on the gap areas for research, sustainable agricultural practices, strategic measures and policy support required to achieve multi-fold growth of Seabuckthorn-led sustainable development in Indian cold deserts.