HP SHIVA Scheme 2026 for Horticulture Development | Check Shiva Project Guidelines

Himachal Pradesh government's HP SHIVA Scheme 2026 is being rolled out across the sub-tropical belt of the state to develop horticulture and help farmers increase their income. HP Shiva Project stands for Himachal Pradesh Sub-tropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project. The project is being carried out with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the state government's own contribution.

This article explains the main details of HP Shiva scheme, including its rollout status, benefits, farmer committees, value addition, official contact details and the latest 2026 updates.

What is HP SHIVA Scheme 2026

Under the HP Shiva scheme, horticulture development is being done on the basis of the seed to market concept. The main goal of the project is to connect the maximum number of unemployed youth and women with horticulture. Support and facilities ranging from suitable saplings to mass marketing are given to the orchardist for developing new orchards.

The project is being implemented in 28 development blocks of the seven sub-tropical districts of Sirmaur, Solan, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi. About 10,000 hectares of land is being brought under the new orchard model, and more than 25,000 farmer families are expected to benefit from HP SHIVA.

For running the project at the ground level, a Project Management Unit (PMU) has been formed in the Department of Horticulture. Two departments are the main implementing agencies: the Department of Horticulture (DOH) and the Department of Irrigation and Public Health (DIPH).

Here is a quick look at the main details of the HP Shiva scheme:

HP Shiva Project Rollout and Guidelines

The pilot phase was taken up through the ADB Project Readiness Financing (PRF) of US$ 10 million, which is roughly equal to about Rs 75 crore. Through this pilot, drip irrigated high density production of guava, litchi, pomegranate and citrus fruits was developed at 17 locations in four districts, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi, covering about 198.67 hectares of land.

The loan agreement for the main project was signed between the Government of India, Asian Development Bank and the Government of Himachal Pradesh on 8 June 2023. After this, the pilot work moved to the broader project, with an ADB loan of US$ 90 million for the main phase. As per the state government's estimates, the total project cost is about Rs 975 crore, in which the government contribution is about Rs 195 crore. Earlier, Rs 48.80 crore was released for the pilot phase, out of which Rs 37.31 crore has been spent so far.

The main phase of HP SHIVA will develop 100 new irrigation schemes in a 10,000 hectare area. Out of these, about 60 percent of the schemes will be revamped and 40 percent will be built new, so that the dependence of orchards on rain water gets lower.

The project is still moving in 2026. The official news on the portal shows that an ADB mission visited Shimla in December 2025 to review the project progress, the submission date for the Expression of Interest (EOI) for new clusters was extended in February 2026, and a training program for members of farmer producer organizations was held at AgriEdge in March 2026. This shows that the project is open for new clusters in 2026.

Benefits of HP Shiva Scheme

Here are the main benefits of the HP Shiva scheme which will turn Himachal Pradesh into a fruit state:-

• High density farming is promoted under HP SHIVA to bring a big change in the horticulture sector.
• Orchards are protected and maintained using scientific methods.
• Provision has been made for composite solar fencing to protect fruits and crops from wild animals and stray cattle.
• Subsidy is given on agricultural equipment and inputs for setting up drip irrigation and managing the clusters, so that the available water is used properly.
• Hundred irrigation schemes are being developed under the project. In this, about 60 percent of the old irrigation schemes will be revamped and about 40 percent will be new schemes, which will lower the dependence of horticulture on rain water.

Committees for Orchards under HP Shiva Project

Under the HP Shiva project, the orchardists are being organised in collaboration with AFC India Limited and registered by forming cooperative societies. These societies handle the collective work of production and marketing of the project.

• Committees work for the collective management of the orchards, collective production, value addition and processing of crops, and collective marketing of the produce.
• Committees carry out other commercial activities related to fruits. The Horticulture Department provides training and help in the capacity building of these committees.
• Committees are linked with service providers and markets through a multi-stakeholder platform, so that orchardists get technical guidance and marketing support at one place.

Value Addition to Crops under HP Shiva Scheme

For the value addition of the crops produced, infrastructure like the following is being developed so that farmers get a fair price for their produce at their own orchards:-

• Packaging, sorting and grading houses
• CAA stores and collection centers
• Processing units
• Other common market facilities for the cluster

Official Website and Contact Details

The official website of the HP Shiva project is hpshiva.hp.gov.in. The latest news, EOI notices, notifications and the HP Shiva app can be accessed from the portal. A revised brochure of the project is available at the Horticulture Department website, and the notification list is available at the notification page. Farmers can also download the project brochure details from HP Shiva Brochure PDF.

For direct help, the office of the Director of Horticulture (Navbahar, Shimla-171002) can be reached on phone number 0177-2842390 or by emailing horticul-hp@nic.in. The Project Director and the Nodal Officer of the project can be contacted on 0177-2841120 and through nodalofficerhpshiva@gmail.com. District-wise offices of the Deputy Director of Horticulture are functional in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur and Una districts.

HP Shiva Pilot Project Background

Horticulture in Himachal Pradesh is proving helpful in strengthening the economy of local families by generating many sources of income. At present, about 2.34 lakh hectares of area is under horticulture in the state. In the last few years, about 31.40 lakh metric tonnes of fruit has been produced. During this period the average annual income from the horticulture sector has been nearly Rs 4,575 crore, and about 21 lakh people are getting direct or indirect employment in this sector.

The contribution of the state to the horticulture market is growing year by year. Looking at the huge potential of sub-tropical regions with a warm climate, HP Shiva pillot project was started, and now the main project is being rolled out.

FAQ's

Is HP Shiva project still running in 2026?

Yes. The main ADB loan agreement for the project was signed in June 2023, an ADB review mission visited in December 2025, the EOI submission date for new clusters was extended in February 2026, and training of FPO members was held in March 2026. The official portal hpshiva.hp.gov.in is live and shows the active work of the project.

Which districts are covered under HP Shiva?

HP Shiva covers 28 development blocks of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Solan, Sirmaur, Solan and Una districts.

Which fruits are included under HP Shiva?

Guava, litchi, pomegranate and citrus fruits are the main fruits taken up under drip irrigated high density farming, together with other recommended sub-tropical fruits.

How can a farmer join HP Shiva?

Farmers owning land inside a notified cluster can become part of the local CHPMA cooperative society. They can contact the Deputy Director of Horticulture office of their district or check the notification page of the official portal for the latest process.

The state's push on horticulture is giving a new support to the agricultural economy of Himachal Pradesh. With the ADB funding in place and the official portal live, the HP Shiva project has moved from the pilot phase to a wider rollout. With better irrigation, scientific management and direct market access, the day is not far when Himachal Pradesh will be known as a fruit state.