Khejri a precious tree, its conservation need of hour: Guv

A meeting was organised at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University to discuss the conservation and promotion of Khejri trees in Haryana, chaired by Governor Bandaru Dattatreya.

The meeting was attended by Nalwa MLA Randhir Panihar, HAU Vice-Chancellor Prof BR Kamboj, GJUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Narsi Ram Bishnoi and other officials.

The Governor emphasised the significance of Khejri trees, particularly in dry regions. He highlighted that every part of the Khejri tree was beneficial for both humans and animals and it played a crucial role in environmental conservation. Khejri was a nitrogen-fixing tree, which helped in improving soil fertility. He noted its long-standing use in ayurveda and traditional medicine for treating various ailments. He called for a concerted effort to conserve and promote this valuable tree, urging the universities to conduct research, provide saplings to farmers, and organise awareness programmes, particularly targeting the youth. He also encouraged social organisations and activists to join the campaign and spread awareness about the importance of Khejri trees.

Vice-Chancellor Kamboj shared insights on Khejri’s role in traditional agroforestry systems, calling it the "king of the desert." He explained that Khejri was predominantly found in Haryana's districts of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Rewari, and Charkhi Dadri. A research conducted by HAU’s Forestry Department on agroforestry models showed that crops grown alongside Khejri trees yielded higher productivity and had enhanced soil fertility. He also pointed out the nutritional value of Khejri pods, locally known as Sangri, which could be used to create various food products such as vegetables, pickles, laddoos, chutney, and biscuits, promoting nutritional security and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the extract from the tree’s bark was used in the symptomatic treatment of scorpion and snake bites. Kamboj concluded that Khejri was an essential species in the fragile ecosystem of the Thar Desert.