Fencing Out Fear, Farming In Fortune: Himachal’s Shiva Project That’s Changing Lives in Una

For years, the farmers of Una district lived at the mercy of two relentless enemies—a fickle sky that refused to rain and rampaging wild animals that devoured their hard-earned crops. But today, a quiet, green revolution is unfolding in the fields. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the HP-Shiva project has stepped in as a game-changer, turning horticulture from a risky gamble into a reliable, thriving livelihood.

Meet Ajmer Singh, a 65-year-old farmer from Baul village in the Bangana sub-division. He remembers the days when his sweat would go to waste. But everything changed when the project brought him land leveling, drip irrigation, and expert technical advice. Starting small, he planted Shweta and Lalita guava varieties on 25 kanals. The results were so extraordinary that he couldn’t stop expanding. Today, Ajmer proudly tends to a sprawling 125-kanal guava orchard. Last season alone, he harvested 25 quintals of juicy guavas, earning ₹1.25 lakh. After covering his costs, he walked away with a clean profit of ₹50,000—proof that when science meets hard work, the soil gives back generously. His success isn’t just his own anymore; it’s a beacon of hope for every farmer in the neighborhood.

And Ajmer isn’t alone. Not far away, Sunil Kumar from Changar-Handola has turned 25 kanals into a lush paradise of 1,725 guava plants. Meanwhile, 74-year-old Roshan Lal from Upper Baul village is proving that age is no barrier to innovation. He took a bold leap into the future, planting 3,300 high-value Taiwan Pink dragon fruit saplings across his land. These aren’t just trees; they are the seeds of a new, prosperous identity for Una’s farming community.

So, what’s making this possible? The government isn’t just handing out saplings and walking away. They are building a fortress around the farmers’ futures. So far, an impressive 30 kilometers of solar-powered fencing have been erected, keeping wild boars and monkeys at bay for good. Massive, pre-fabricated water tanks with a capacity of 13 lakh litres have sprung up, alongside state-of-the-art drip systems that ensure not a single drop of water is wasted. In this carefully protected ecosystem, 65,575 premium fruit saplings—guava, pomegranate, and sweet lime—have already taken root across 60 hectares.

The project is being rolled out in two phases. The first phase has already identified 149 hectares for development, with plans to scale up to 200 hectares. The second phase will add another 300 hectares, bringing the total to a remarkable 500 hectares of modern fruit cultivation across the district. The enthusiasm is so infectious that the Horticulture Department is gearing up to plant an additional 70,000 saplings by August this year. The orders are placed, and preparations are in full swing.

The ground reality is even more impressive when you look at the numbers behind the greenery. A total of 358 farming families are now directly benefiting from this initiative. The government has invested over ₹8.38 crore into this dream, with ₹3.72 crore dedicated purely to those protective solar fences and ₹70 lakh spent on ensuring three-phase electricity reaches the farmers’ pump houses.

But the vision goes beyond just fruit trees. The second phase is taking a futuristic turn, focusing on “super fruits” like blueberries, avocados, and dragon fruit. In a pioneering move, one progressive farmer in the district has already started cultivating blueberries on an acre under the department’s watchful eye, and the early results are incredibly encouraging.

Furthermore, the irrigation backbone of the region is getting a massive upgrade. New lift irrigation schemes at Balh, Muchchali, and Chapalah have been dedicated to the people, while older schemes have been modernized. In the Pippli area, under LIS Samur, two giant water tanks (holding 3 lakh litres each) have been constructed, ensuring that even the most parched fields get a drink.

Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal sums it up best: “HP-Shiva is not just about planting trees; it’s about planting security and dignity for our farmers. By combining solar fencing, micro-irrigation, water conservation, and technical guidance, we are lowering their costs and raising their hopes.”

For the farmers of Una, the future is no longer a dry, barren field. It is a blooming orchard, buzzing with life and humming with the sweet sound of prosperity.