Sea-buckthorn, or Leh berries, as they are popularly called, is one of the hyperlocal fruits of Ladakh. Its usefulness in the food and beverages business is well-known but this orange berry covered with thorns gave a new lease of life to marginalized communities in the mountain state.
Leh berries grow in the wild, which meant that despite the global demand, less than 5% of the demand was fulfilled from Ladakh. SIDBI, in partnership with Aide et Action, an international NGO and M3M Foundation, set up the Swavalamban LEAP program to enable dozens of unemployed or underemployed youth in the state to earn a livelihood.
Ladaki youth picked for the program were put through a six-month training course in processing, branding packaging and distribution of products using the berries, such as pulp, medicines, juices, beauty products etc. They were then given seed capital to set up their own collection and processing units.
Over three years, we hope to see 15 such group enterprises of about five entrepreneurs each, benefitting 750 families. Helping matters alone, the Sea Buckthorn has been assigned a geographical indicator (GI) tag which gives an added protection to the entrepreneurs.
As with everything we do at SIDBI(Small Industries Development Bank of India), the true satisfaction will come not just when I sip a glass of Leh Berry juice with my breakfast, but also seeing hundreds of families become economically independent and prosperous.
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