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With the efforts of plant pathologists and horticulture experts of the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), all three ancient trees have borne good quantum of fruit after several years this season.
Though the plucking of fruit is not allowed, the devotees, especially those who take a holy dip near Dukh Bhanjani Beri, sit under it, expecting that a fruit may fall on them. There’s no restriction on collecting the ones that fall as ‘parshad’.
There has been no scientific study to determine their age, but the Dukh Bhanjani Beri and Baba Budha Sahib Beri are believed to be over 400 years old as these were here during 16th century Guru Ram Das era.
Narinder Pal Singh, senior district extension specialist (farm management) who has been associated with the preservation of these trees under the PAU’s Farm Advisory Service Scheme since 2005, said that normally, a ‘ber’ tree has a healthy life between 70 and 100 years.
Narinder said that a team of experts, including Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar (fruit management) and entomologists Dr Sandeep Singh and Dr Parminder Kaur, regularly conducts nutrient analysis of these rare trees.
The PAU team had also got the thick layers of concrete and marble removed to ensure that the root zone gets proper space and air.
The experts said that utmost care is taken when it comes to the use of pesticides. Mostly, neem extract is used to control lac insect attack.
The fruiting process is also kept under close watch as its excess can diminish the nutrient level in the long run.
SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said, “Fruits are there on all three trees, but Baba Budha Sahib beri has more fruit than the other two. PAU team’s efforts have borne magnificent results”.
Advisory to devotees
- Devotees have been advised not to touch the trees as their hands could be smeared with ‘ghee’.
- They are also discouraged from adorning the trees with flowers or garlands as these will attract insects when they get decomposed.
