India and the Netherlands have agreed to expand agricultural cooperation with greater emphasis on horticulture, seed-sector collaboration, technology, innovation and knowledge exchange.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan held bilateral discussions with Netherlands Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature Silvio Erkens in New Delhi on September 28, 2026. The meeting reviewed existing agricultural cooperation and explored areas where the two countries could develop new institutional partnerships.
Technology and Knowledge Exchange to Support Agricultural Productivity
Both sides reaffirmed their intention to strengthen agricultural productivity through modern technology, innovation and exchange of technical knowledge.
India and the Netherlands have developed agricultural cooperation across areas including horticulture, protected cultivation, planting material and agricultural technologies. The latest discussions focused on building upon these existing mechanisms while identifying new fields where expertise from both countries can be combined.
Agricultural innovation received particular attention during the meeting. The two governments discussed identifying areas where Indian and Dutch institutions could collaborate, recognising advances made by both countries in agricultural research, technology and production systems.
Progress Reviewed on 25 Centres of Excellence
The ministers reviewed progress on the establishment of 25 Centres of Excellence in agriculture and horticulture.
These centres form an important component of India-Netherlands agricultural cooperation by facilitating the demonstration and transfer of modern cultivation practices, production technologies and technical expertise to Indian farming systems.
The cooperation also supports the wider objective of improving productivity, crop quality and resource efficiency through practical application of modern agricultural methods.
India and Netherlands Plan Structured Seed-Sector Cooperation
Seed-sector collaboration emerged as another major area of discussion.
India and the Netherlands agreed to explore the preparation of a work plan identifying specific areas of cooperation in the seed industry. The proposed framework is intended to provide greater clarity for implementation and enable both sides to pursue structured cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
India possesses one of the world’s largest agricultural markets and a substantial domestic seed industry, while the Netherlands has considerable expertise in plant breeding, horticultural technologies and high-value agricultural production. Greater institutional cooperation could therefore support research, technology exchange and improvements in agricultural productivity.
Market Access Issues Also Discussed
The discussions also covered agricultural market-access matters as part of the broader bilateral engagement.
Market access remains important for agricultural cooperation because regulatory standards, plant-health requirements, certification systems and trade procedures influence the movement of agricultural products and planting material between countries.
Continued technical engagement between Indian and Dutch authorities can help address such issues while creating greater opportunities for agricultural businesses and research institutions on both sides.
Senior Officials Join Bilateral Discussions
The Dutch delegation included Marten van den Berg, Director General in the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Netherlands Ambassador to India Marisa Gerards and other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra, Department of Agricultural Research and Education Secretary Dr. M. L. Jat and senior officials of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The latest discussions reinforce a long-standing agricultural partnership between India and the Netherlands while placing greater emphasis on practical cooperation in seeds, horticulture, agricultural innovation and technology. Expanding these institutional links can strengthen India’s access to advanced agricultural knowledge while supporting more productive, efficient and technology-driven farming systems.
References
Press Information Bureau, Government of India — India and Netherlands Discuss Deepening Agricultural Cooperation, published October 2, 2026.
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