Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Khilendra Gurung* and Vimal N P Gupta**
*Siddhartha Herbal Industry, Kathmandu
**Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University
Abstract
Mustang district is the arid region of Nepal characterized by harsh climatic conditions, fragile
soil, low productivity and sparse vegetation. Seabuckthorn (Hippophae L.) is the most
appropriate multipurpose option for such region. It has the potential to support high value‐
added products, which can be integrated within the market economy, as well as to support
the rehabilitation and upgrading of marginal slopes through soil binding and building in
mountain areas.
Study of Seabuckthorn was carried out in Mustang district on the ground of traditional uses
and commercial value. RRA tools and semi‐structured interview was conducted with key
informants as local healers (Amchis), elder villagers, schoolteachers, hotel and restaurant
owners, herders and ACAP staffs. Local people have been utilizing Seabuckthorn as their
daily commodity in the form of subsidiary food items, for treatment, fuel wood, timber,
fencing, fodder, fixative and polish. Hotel and restaurant owners of trekking route are
benefited by exploiting this resource in the form of juice and jam. Still the local people are not
benefited from this resource. Programs are required to popularize the plant among local
people, so as to establish it as an alternative source of income generation.
Key words: Seabuckthorn, Hippophae, Traditional, Commercial, Mustang
Introduction
Mustang district, located towards the north of main mountain crest of
Annapurna‐Dhaulagiri range has created an arid zone, characterized by harsh
climatic conditions, fragile soil, low productivity of agriculture lands and
sparse vegetation. In such regions, on the one hand, numerous plants served
to supplement very limited food resources while on the other hand they were
indispensable in the treatment of various diseases (Pohle, 1990). Seabuckthorn
(Hippophae L.) is the most appropriate multipurpose option suited for dry
mountain areas. It has the potential to support high value added products,
which can be integrated within the market economy as well as to support the
rehabilitation and upgrading of marginal slopes through soil binding and
building in mountain areas (Rongsen, 1992).
The aim of this survey is the first and foremost to document the range of the
local peopleʹs knowledge on Seabuckthorn and their exploitation for
commercial use in Mustang district.
Materials and Methods
Study Area
Mustang district lies in the north‐central part of Nepal, between 28024ʹ‐29020ʹ
N and 83030ʹ‐84010ʹE. The district covers an area of 3573 sq. km. with elevation
ranges from 1372m‐ 8167m. The rainfall was maximum in July and August
(42.3 mm and 41.8 mm respectively) and minimum rainfall occurred in
November i.e. 1.6 mm. Similarly, the average monthly temperature at the
study site was highest in July and August (140C and 13.80C respectively) and
the lowest temperature was recorded in the month of January and February
as –3.50C and –2.50C respectively (Anonymous, 2003).
Most of the vegetation is composed of scarce and scattered patches of thorny
cushion plants (Caragana spp, Astragalus spp, Lonicera spp) showing affinity
with the Tibetan Plateau. Sheltered places have junipers, blue pine and
birches, while moist ravines and riverbanks have poplars and Seabuckthorn.
Stretches of steppic landscapes are found in the upper Mustang region (TISC,
2002).
Methods of Study
Different parts of Mustang district were surveyed in March‐May 2000, along
different transects. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with key
informants who were healers (Amchis), shepherds/herders, firewood/fuel
wood collectors (esp. women) and farmers who possessed knowledge on the
traditional uses of Seabuckthorn. Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) tools were
carried out among office staffs (ACAP members), local users/hotel and
restaurant owners, local leaders and schoolteachers. They were consulted for
traditional uses and commercial exploitation of Seabuckthorn; their local
names, parts used, modes of preparation of remedies, diseases treated and
methods of their administration. Repeated queries were made with same
informants and cross‐checked at different places with other informants. The
data were considered valid only if at least three informants had similar
comments about the usage of Seabuckthorn.
Results and Discussion
Seabuckthorn is very popular in Mustang as Chichi (Hippophae salicifolia) and
Tora (Hippophae tibetana). In many parts of Mustang, it is known for chuk
(traditional vinegar). Locally processed juice can be stored for many years and
used for pickle making. In recent years due to the launching of training
programs on jam and juice extraction, especially in lower Mustang (Ghansa‐
Muktinath), the species is being popular. The juice worth about NRs 90‐150
per bottle (extracted from Hippophae salicifolia) and NRs 230‐350 per bottle
(extracted from Hippophae tibetana). This has increased the earning of local
people mainly for restaurant and hotel owners by selling them mostly to the
trekkers. The juicy extract of the fruits in part has been used up by local
healers (Amchis) to cure several diseases like skin diseases, cutaneous
eruption, breathing and digestive disorders, relief of pain, asthma (both for
humans and domestic animals), menstrual irregularity and swelling and
removal of tooth stains (Hippophae spp. is mixed with ash). Many people use
fruits of Hippophae tibetana as a fixative for dyeing hand woven clothes. They
also use the fruit to polish metal objects in boiling juice and afterwards polish
with ash. In most parts of Upper Mustang with high altitudinal range and
scanty vegetation, Hippophae tibetana fulfills the fuel wood demand. In those
areas, almost every house uses stored wood of this species that is kept for use
in winters when other options are not there.
Beside that, Hippophae salicifolia is established as a good wood producing plant
for plough making mainly in lower areas of Mustang. People in most parts of
Upper Mustang use Hippophae tibetana as a fence around their fields and
house yards and manage them properly. According to them, due to spiny
nature of plants, fields are protected from grazing animals and it has resulted
in increased crop production. Hippophae tibetana fencing around houses
protect them from the danger of wild animals.
In alpine pasturelands of Mustang, all the herders drive their livestock to feed
on the green foliage of Hippophae tibetana during early winter (September‐
November). The herdsmen of Lomanthang experienced that sick horses when
fed with Hippophae tibetana leaves and tender branches recover and regain the
body and hair shine. The natural intercropping of Hippophae tibetana with
apples in Ghami and Charang has resulted good yield and quality. This in
turn, has enhanced the Hippophae tibetana in agro forestry in those areas.
Furthermore, as Hippophae spp. is a Nitrogen fixer, certainly the soil at around
Hippophae spp. growing area is fertile. An evidence of this is the public
interest of bringing the soil from Hippophae tibetana growing areas and adding
that in the cultivated lands in Jharkot. Seabuckthorn User Group (SUG) in
Jharkot is now instrumental in protecting the Hippophae tibetana within their
area. SUG has levied a penalty of NRs. 500 for cutting or removing a single
plant; this has significantly helped in the conservation of Hippophae tibetana
population in this area.
Still, people of Upper Mustang are not benefited from these schemes even
though there is enough stock of resources. They are optimistic with this
species as an alternative source of income generation.
Peopleʹs Perceptions About Seabuckthorn
• Lack of proper information regarding this plant.
• It is difficult to pick the berries from shrub/trees because of thorns on
the stems and branches. Some collectors fell plants in order to harvest
the berries. Such a method damages the Seabuckthorn resources.
• Root suckers spread all over the field, thus hindering the agriculture
practices.
• Seabuckthorn is a dioecious plant. In the natural forest, the ratio of
male to female is not equal. The quantity of male is often higher and
the female are scattered and difficult to harvest.
• Most Seabuckthorn resources are distributed far away from
transportation and residence, making it difficult to exploit fully.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Seabuckthorn has been put to many traditional uses for centuries by local
inhabitants of Mustang district. Furthermore, these days the multipurpose
plant, Seabuckthorn is viewed as a remedy to a multitude of socio‐economic
and environmental problems. Being a rich source of cash income and off‐
farm employment and an effective means of slope stabilization and soil
moisture conservation, Seabuckthorn can be extensively used in mountain
regions of Nepal to make marginal slopes stable and to boost up the economic
status of local of local people. Although exploitation of Seabuckthorn is very
suitable in Nepal, various strategies are necessary on a national and local
level.
• It is necessary to generate awareness to local farmers about the benefits of
this plant. They should be aware of the degradation of hill slopes by
improper land use, as well as multipurpose benefits of Seabuckthorn on
ecology and economy.
• Proper market for Seabuckthorn byproducts like syrup, medicine, wine,
cosmetics, additive food items etc should be extended.
• Mustang district is one of the hotspot for tourism. Therefore, the
Seabuckthorn products can be popularized as Himalayan wild fruit juice
and jam. But, it should be noted that the juice making apparatus must be
sterilized and product should be served with boiled water/mineral water.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to TISC/NARMSAP for technical support and ecological
survey team members for their painstaking assistance during field trip. We
would also like to express sincere gratitude to Ange Gurung (Hotel Sonam,
Jharkot), Rupa Thakali (Hotel Larjung, Kobang), Maya Bista (Former VDC
Chairman, Charang), Indra Bista (Former VDC Vice‐chairman, Lomanthang)
and all local inhabitants for their hospitality and valuable information.
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