Under the HP Shiva Project, Jeevan Kaushal has truly found new wings to fly after retirement. He stands as a perfect example for those who believe life comes to a halt once a person retires.
Preneeta Sharma
May 11
In the green hills of Mandi district, where terraced fields quietly overlook the valleys of Sundernagar, a retired government employee has scripted a story that is now inspiring farmers across the region.
For years, Jeevan Kaushal served in the Himachal Pradesh Fire Services Department, responding to emergencies and battling flames in difficult conditions. But after retiring in 2020, the Brikhmani Panchayat resident chose a very different path that one rooted not in fire, but in soil, patience and possibility.
At an age when many settle into a slower routine, Kaushal decided to begin again.
With support from the Himachal Pradesh government’s ambitious HP SHIVA Project, he planted nearly 300 plum saplings in 2022, transforming his land into a modern orchard with hopes of creating something sustainable for the future.
Today, that decision has blossomed into success.
This week, the first commercial harvest of premium Red Beaut plums from his orchard reached the Bhuntar vegetable market, where the produce reportedly fetched around Rs 200 per kilogram in bulk purchase by Ram Fruit Company. Traders were impressed by the fruit’s rich colour, size and quality, a proud moment for a first-time orchardist.
For Kaushal, however, the harvest represents much more than a profitable crop.It is proof that retirement can also mean reinvention.
Sharing his thoughts with crazynewsindia team, he says “I wanted to do something meaningful after retirement that would not only support the family but also inspire others,standing amid rows of plum trees that now carry the reward of years of effort.”
He credits the success to relentless hard work, guidance from the HP SHIVA Project team and unwavering family support. His wife, Neelam Kaushal, and mother, Kanta Kaushal, played an equally important role in nurturing the orchard through every season.
The orchard, once an uncertain experiment, is now becoming a symbol of changing agricultural aspirations in rural Himachal.
Kaushal believes the journey has only just begun. Encouraged by the response to the first harvest, the family now hopes to strengthen the orchard further and eventually establish the fruit as a recognised regional brand. In the future, they even aspire to explore the possibility of securing a GI tag for the produce after completing required procedures.
Across Mandi district, where many young people continue to migrate in search of opportunities, stories like Kaushal’s are offering a different message that modern horticulture, when combined with innovation and persistence, can create prosperity close to home.
And in the quiet orchards of Brikhmani Panchayat, that message is already taking roots and wings.
