Health with Sea buckthorn

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in partnership with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), is working to promote yak and sea buckthorn value chains in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Sea buckthorn berries grow plentifully in the wild in northern Pakistan. The fruit, a source of vitamins, minerals, and Omegas 3, 6, and 9, is valued for its health benefits. It yields a sour, bitter juice, and can be preserved as jam. It can also be processed into a range of marketable supplements and skincare products, providing alternative livelihood options to locals. Similarly, traditional yak herding in Gilgit-Baltistan, where 23% of the area is rangeland, can be strengthened and promoted sustainably