Onlykashmir.in News Desk
India and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, with talks between the two agriculture ministers in New Delhi centring on Centres of Excellence, the seed sector and agricultural innovation.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held bilateral talks on September 28, 2026 with Dutch Minister Silvio Erkens, who oversees food security, fisheries and horticulture in the Netherlands. The meeting reviewed ongoing cooperation in the sector and explored new areas where the two countries can work together. Both sides reiterated their resolve to raise productivity through modern technology, innovation and knowledge exchange, and the discussions also covered market access. government
A key item on the agenda was progress on setting up 25 Centres of Excellence in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. These centres are meant to bring Dutch expertise in areas such as protected cultivation and farm technology closer to Indian farmers. The ministers also agreed to explore cooperation in the seed sector through a work plan that would outline key areas of collaboration and give the partnership a clear framework for effective implementation.
The talks came during a wider visit. Erkens was in India from September 27 to October 2, with stops that included Mumbai for the Anuga FoodTec expo and the Agricon HortiConnect Expo. It was the first visit by a Dutch government member since the strategic partnership between the two countries was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in May, and the first by a minister from the Dutch agriculture ministry since 2018. government
For India, the engagement offers access to technology and best practices in horticulture, seeds and value chains, areas where the Netherlands is a global leader despite its size. For the Netherlands, a growing Indian market and a large agricultural base present economic opportunities. The emphasis on a work plan in the seed sector suggests both governments are moving from broad intent to defined deliverables.
The outcome is also relevant to regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, where horticulture, including apples and other fruit, is central to rural livelihoods. Knowledge exchange in cold-chain systems, seed quality and post-harvest management could, over time, benefit growers in the Valley. How quickly the Centres of Excellence become operational will be the real test of the partnership.
