THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, OCTOBER 2, 2026
India and the
Netherlands have discussed ways to deepen cooperation in agriculture, with a
focus on expanding Centres of Excellence, strengthening collaboration in the
seed sector, addressing market access issues and promoting innovation in
farming.
The discussions took
place during a bilateral meeting between Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries,
Food Security and Nature Silvio Erkens in New Delhi on September 28.
The two sides
reviewed the progress of ongoing cooperation in the agriculture sector and
explored new areas of collaboration aimed at improving farm productivity
through modern technology, innovation and knowledge exchange.
A key focus of the
meeting was the progress in establishing 25 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in the
agriculture and horticulture sectors. The centres are envisaged as platforms
for promoting modern agricultural practices, technology and knowledge sharing.
India and the
Netherlands also agreed to explore cooperation in the seed sector through a
work plan that would identify key areas of collaboration and provide a
framework for effective implementation.
The two countries
further discussed opportunities for cooperation in agricultural innovation,
taking into account the advances and technological capabilities developed by
both sides.
The discussions also
covered market access issues, underscoring the importance of creating greater
opportunities for agricultural trade and cooperation between the two countries.
The Dutch delegation
included Marten van den Berg, Director General, and senior officials of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, besides Marisa
Gerards, Ambassador of the Netherlands to India, and officials of the Dutch
Embassy.
The Indian delegation comprised Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) M L Jat and other senior officials of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The latest engagement comes as India and the Netherlands seek to build on their existing agricultural partnership by leveraging technology, innovation and expertise to address emerging challenges and improve productivity across the farm sector.
