The biggest Dutch trade mission to India unfurled with over 200 participants, 140 companies/knowledge institutions, 4 cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
During the trade mission, Indian and Dutch companies discussed and shared ideas about collaborations in sectors such as agribusiness & horticulture, life sciences & healthcare, startups, sustainable business etc.
India exports 7 times more agro produce than Netherlands exports to India. The Netherlands exports mostly inputs for agriculture, like agro-tech, agro-knowledge, high yield seeds, seed potatoes, semen to India. Together India and the Netherlands are a natural fit in Agro.
During the Prime Minister of Netherlands’ visit, the focus was on dairy, financing in agro, horticulture and seed technology, food safety, partnership with Haryana Government to solve the issue of paddy burning, green house solutions for diversification of crops to horticulture crops and World Bank Initiatives.
Netherlands has the technology that can help India double its farmer’s income or double its food production. Dutch apple trees have five times more yield per hectare than the traditional apple trees variety. Also, the Dutch trees have their first apple harvest after 11 months, reported Netherlands and You.
The Netherlands wants to utilize ‘Make in India’ mission and transfer knowledge and technology in agriculture. Some examples include:
- Establishment of vegetable, fruit and potato processing machines plant in Ambala (Haryana) by the company “All Round”
- Joining of Dutch state-of-the art seed company HZPC with the Agri-Division of Mahindra to breed seed potatoes with double yield per hectare compared to traditional Indian seed potato in Mohali (Punjab)
- Seed developing and R&D company Rijkszwaan are now breeding high yield vegetable seeds in Bangalore
- Food Tech Project, where the Dutch government and a consortium of Dutch food processing and food-logistic companies joined hands with Future Supermarkets to get the food-supply chain efficient and sustainable