Ajmer Singh’s Guava Garden: From Barren to Thriving with HP SHIVA Project

Una, September 24. The same land, where once not a stalk of wheat nor a kernel of maize would grow, is now lush and verdant. Ajmer Singh, a 65-year-old farmer from Baul village in the Bangana sub-division of Una district, has cultivated a flourishing guava orchard on this previously barren land with the help of the HP SHIVA project. Proving that age is just a number, Ajmer has written his own success story through modern techniques, hard work, and government guidance.

This season, his orchard is expected to yield over 22 quintals of produce, which is estimated to bring him an income of more than ₹1 lakh. This success has not only strengthened his family’s financial condition but has also inspired other farmers in the village to turn towards fruit-based cultivation.

Started with 1800 plants, now has a guava orchard on 450 kanal of land

Ajmer Singh explains that he began about three and a half years ago under the Front Line Demonstration (FLD) scheme by planting 1,800 guava saplings, which included the Shweta and Lalita varieties. He has currently cultivated a guava orchard on approximately 450 kanal of land. This season, a harvest of about 22 quintals of guava is expected. Customers are buying guavas directly from his home at ₹50 per kilogram.

A New Path with the HP SHIVA Project

Ajmer Singh says that the very land which was once ruined by wild animals and could not even support crops like wheat and maize is now covered in greenery. With the help of the Himachal Pradesh government and the Horticulture Department, under the HP SHIVA project, he was provided with plants, a drip irrigation system, vermicompost, polythene for moisture retention, fencing, and necessary medicines.

Training and Continuous Guidance from the Government

Ajmer Singh received five days of training from the Horticulture Department’s Neri College in Hamirpur, where he was taught about plant cuttings, identifying diseases, and their treatments. Furthermore, officers from the Horticulture Department regularly visit the cluster to inspect the plants and provide technical guidance.

Employment for the Family, Gratitude to the Government

Ajmer Singh says that it is only with the support of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Horticulture Department that this barren land has been transformed into a guava orchard. Now, the entire family is involved in this work—his wife Tripta Devi, both sons, and daughters-in-law are all lending a hand in the farming.

His wife, Tripta Devi, adding to the sentiment, says that for their family, this is not just farming, but a means to household prosperity. “The whole family is working together, and we are extremely happy about it.”

What the Officials Say

The Deputy Director of the Una Horticulture Department, K.K. Bhardwaj, stated that the state government’s ambitious ₹1,292 crore HP SHIVA project is bringing prosperity to the lives of farmers and horticulturists across the state. Under this scheme, the integration of modern techniques, quality planting material, scientific guidance, and government support has not only increased farmers’ income but has also opened new doors of self-employment for rural youth.

Dr. Bhardwaj informed that in the year 2024-25, 17,000 high-quality guava plants were planted on 15 hectares of land in the Bangana development block. Furthermore, for the year 2025-26, work is underway to plant 55,000 plants of guava, kinnow, and malta on 50 hectares of land. There is now a plan to expand this project across the entire district.

He explained that under the HP SHIVA project, activities like land development for planting fruit plants in clusters, high-quality fruit plants, composite fencing, drip irrigation work, etc., are being carried out with 100 percent subsidy.

What the District Magistrate Says

Una District Magistrate Jatin Lal stated that, following the directives of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, effective implementation of the HP SHIVA project is being ensured in the district. Through the Horticulture Department, it is being ensured that farmers receive complete support at every stage, from plantation to irrigation and marketing. “Our effort is that through this scheme, not only should the income of farmers increase, but youth should also get new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in the horticulture sector.”