Sea buckthorn
21.11.2023
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For Prelims:About Sea Buckthorn,Important points,Use,Geographical Indication (GI Tag) |
Why in the news?
Sea buckthorn fruit from Ladakh has recently been granted GI tag.
Important points:
- Sea Buckthorn is known as the 'Wonder Plant', 'Ladakh Gold', 'Golden Bush' or the 'gold mine' of cold deserts.
- This will be the fourth GI tag for Ladakh.
- Earlier, Ladakh pashmina, apricot (Rakatse carpo species) and Ladakhi wood carvings have also received the GI tag.
About Sea Buckthorn:
- Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a plant found throughout Europe and Asia.
- In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, usually in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti.
- It is naturally distributed in 11,500 hectares in the Ladakh region.
- It produces small orange or yellow berries that are sour in taste but rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C.
- This shrub can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from minus 43 °C to 40 °C and is considered drought resistant.
- These two characteristics make the shrub an ideal plant species to establish in cold deserts.
- Sea buckthorn berries have the unique characteristic of remaining intact on the bush throughout the winter months despite sub-zero temperatures.
Use:
- It has been traditionally used for a variety of purposes.
- Every part of the plant – fruit, leaf, twig, root and thorns – has been traditionally used as medicine, nutritional supplement, fuel and hedge.
- Many bird species eat berries when other sources of food are limited in an area.
- The leaves serve as protein-rich fodder for cold desert animals such as sheep, goats, donkeys, cattle and two-humped camels.
About Geographical Indication (GI Tag).
- It is a mark used on products that have a specific geographical origin.
- And they have quality or reputation.
- It is commonly used for agricultural products, foods, wines and spirit beverages, handicrafts, and industrial products.
- The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
- The first product to get GI tag in India was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.
- The GI tag is valid for 10 years, after which it can be renewed