Una, July 26:- The horticulture landscape in Una district is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, sustained efforts to promote agriculture and horticulture have made the HP-SHIVA Project a new ray of hope for farmers. Areas once plagued by wild animal attacks and inadequate irrigation are now witnessing the development of flourishing orchards with the help of solar fencing, modern irrigation systems, and high-quality fruit saplings. As a result, more farmers are embracing commercial horticulture, significantly improving their income prospects.
Sixty-five-year-old farmer Ajmer Singh from Baul village in Bangana subdivision is a living example of the project's success. After receiving land leveling support, drip irrigation facilities, and technical assistance under the HP-SHIVA Project, he started guava cultivation on 25 kanals of land using the Shweta and Lalita varieties. Encouraged by excellent results, he gradually expanded his orchard and now successfully cultivates guava on nearly 125 kanals.
Last year, his orchard produced around 25 quintals of guava, generating an income of approximately ?1.25 lakh. After deducting production costs, he earned a net profit of nearly ?50,000, demonstrating that modern technology and scientific horticulture can significantly enhance farmers' incomes.
Ajmer Singh's success has become an inspiration for other farmers in the region. Similarly, Sunil Kumar of Changar-Handola has developed a modern guava orchard with 1,725 guava plants on 25 kanals under the project.
Likewise, 74-year-old Roshan Lal from Upper Baul village has adopted the high-value crop Dragon Fruit, planting around 3,300 Taiwan Pink variety plants on 25 kanals. Their achievements clearly show that the HP-SHIVA Project is not only giving horticulture a new identity in Una but also creating fresh opportunities for income generation and boosting farmers' confidence.

**Project Being Implemented in Two Phases**
Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department K.K. Bhardwaj said the HP-SHIVA Project is being implemented in Una district in two phases. Under the first phase, the target is to develop 200 hectares under modern fruit cultivation, while the second phase aims to bring an additional 300 hectares under horticulture. Overall, the project envisions developing 500 hectares for modern fruit production.

**Significant Achievements in the First Phase**
Mr. Bhardwaj stated that 149 hectares of land have already been identified under the first phase. During the past two years, substantial infrastructure development and large-scale plantation activities have been successfully completed in the selected areas.
Around 30,000 meters (30 km) of solar-powered fencing has been installed to protect crops from wild animals.
Additionally, modern prefabricated modular water tanks with a combined storage capacity of 1.3 million litres have been constructed, along with advanced drip irrigation systems to ensure optimum utilization of limited water resources.
Following these developments, approximately 65,575 high-quality fruit plants have been planted across 60 hectares, including mainly guava, sweet lime (Mosambi), and pomegranate.
Modern Fruit Cultivation Across 13 Clusters
The Deputy Director informed that 13 horticulture clusters have been identified in Una district under the project.
In Bangana Development Block, about 140 hectares covering Dumkhar, Nalwari, Baul, Sanhal, Tihra, Muchhali, Chadoli, Kuwari, Handola, Lamlehri, and Dohak have been included.
Besides this, around 4 hectares in Nangal Khurd of Haroli Block and nearly 5 hectares in Saloh Beri of Gagret Block are also being developed under the project.

**Target to Plant 70,000 More Saplings This Year**
Mr. Bhardwaj said that under the project's expansion plan, the Horticulture Department proposes to plant nearly 70,000 additional fruit saplings during July-August 2026. The demand for saplings has already been placed, and preparations for plantation are underway on a war footing.
Before implementing the HP-SHIVA Project on a larger scale, 11 Frontline Demonstration (FLD) sites covering about 11 hectares were established in Bangana Block between 2021 and 2024. These included five guava, four pomegranate, one sweet lime/Malta, and one dragon fruit demonstration plot.
The plants at these demonstration sites started bearing fruit within 2–3 years, producing encouraging results that boosted farmers' confidence and laid the foundation for the project's expansion.

**Second Phase to Focus on Super Fruits**
K.K. Bhardwaj said that the second phase of the project will focus on promoting modern, high-value horticulture crops such as blueberries, avocados, and dragon fruit.
Currently, dragon fruit is being cultivated on around 6 hectares in Una district. Interest among farmers in blueberry cultivation is also growing. A progressive farmer in Una has already started blueberry farming on one acre under the technical guidance of the Horticulture Department, with highly encouraging initial results. The department expects blueberry cultivation to become a significant source of additional income for farmers in the future.

**358 Farmers Benefiting Directly**
Mr. Bhardwaj said that 358 farmers have directly benefited from the HP-SHIVA Project so far.
The Horticulture Department has spent approximately ?838 lakh on the project. Out of this, nearly ?372 lakh has been invested in solar fencing, while around ?70 lakh has been provided to the Electricity Department for three-phase power connections to pump houses.

**Major Expansion in Irrigation Infrastructure**
The project has strengthened not only horticulture but also irrigation infrastructure.
Through the Jal Shakti Department, three new Lift Irrigation Schemes (LIS) at Balh, Muchhali, and Chaplah have been commissioned for public use.
In addition, existing irrigation systems have been modernized. Under LIS Samoor-Pipli, two large water storage tanks of 300,000 litres each have been constructed, while LIS Handola has also been upgraded, significantly enhancing irrigation capacity.

**Changing the Future of Farming in Una**
Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal said that the HP-SHIVA Project is much more than a plantation programme. It has emerged as a comprehensive model promoting modern farming techniques, protected cultivation, water conservation, and improved marketing.
He added that through solar fencing, drip irrigation, water storage facilities, high-quality planting material, and technical guidance, the project is reducing farmers' production costs while significantly strengthening their prospects for higher income.