Srinagar/Jammu, Sept. 19 -- In a decision aimed at enhancing the production of sea buckthorn, increasing farmers' income and strengthening the complete value chain, Ladakh lieutenant governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, on Friday announced to increase the procurement price of sea buckthorn from Rs.150 per kg last year to minimum Rs.300 per kg this year, effecting a massive increase of 100%. Inaugurating the first two-day International Sea Buckthorn Conclave in Leh, Saxena said this significant increase in production price essentially aimed at increasing the income of farmers and local communities engaged in production of sea buckthorn - the wonder berry of Ladakh. The LG also released a postal cover featuring Ladakh's sea buckthorn, marking the recognition of the region's distinctive natural resource and its growing identity. 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, providing an opportunity to exchange knowledge and learn from experiences in developing sea buckthorn as an economic resource. Currently, wild sea buckthorn grows in dense, thorny bushes, making extraction so difficult that almost 85% of the annual crop is wasted. To improve this stark 15% commercial utilisation rate, the LG has directed to boost crop recovery to at least 50% this year, with a strict target of achieving 100% utilisation by next year, by adopting modern harvesting techniques, so as to meet the growing demand of sea buckthorn across the country. He stressed that improved harvesting techniques, value addition, packaging and market linkages are essential to achieving this goal....