Sea buckthorn and the future of Nepal’s upper hills

en.himalpress.com · 4 days ago

Sea buckthorn, a hardy shrub native to the Himalayas including Nepal's high-altitude regions like Manang and Mustang, is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. While communities have long used its berries and oil for traditional remedies, modern science is now recognizing its extensive nutritional and medicinal properties. The plant thrives in marginal land, offering ecological benefits like soil stabilization and nitrogen fixation, making it a potential agricultural asset for Nepal. Countries like China, Mongolia, and India are already cultivating it on a large scale for various products, and Nepal has the opportunity to develop value-added industries such as juice production and skincare to generate income and support rural development.