New Delhi, Sep 28 (PTI) The conclusion of India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations could open new avenues for agricultural innovation and boost trade in processed food, Dutch minister Silvio Erkens said on Monday.
Erkens, who is the Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture, said India and the Netherlands should deepen cooperation in climate-resilient agriculture and water-efficient cultivation, including improved seeds, greenhouse farming and controlled cultivation systems.
The minister is on a visit to India from September 27 to October 2. The visit is the first by a Dutch agriculture minister to New Delhi since 2018 and follows the announcement of a Strategic Partnership between the two countries during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands in May.
During his ongoing visit, Erkins met Indian agriculture officials in Delhi and is scheduled to travel to Mumbai and Bengaluru for engagements with businesses and the horticulture and seed sectors.
“I think it will be two things that will benefit from that (India-EU FTA). First of all, I think it is trade in processed food products, which I think will both diversify the European and Indian supply chains,” Erkens said at a press conference in New Delhi on Monday.
India and the European Union concluded negotiations on their free trade agreement in January, but the pact is yet to be formally signed by the two sides.
“I also think it (the FTA) creates the basis for further cooperation on agricultural innovation,” Erkens added.
Food security was another key area of focus, with Erkens calling for more resilient supply chains and greater cooperation to reduce dependence on external inputs while improving farmer productivity and incomes.
On water scarcity, Erkens said seed development could help farmers cope with reduced rainfall and higher temperatures.
“If we develop seeds that can handle less water, a drought period of no rain, it can really help a lot. Secondly, closed agricultural systems such as horticulture will actually need a lot less water to produce the same kind of crop that you will need in an open field,” Erkens told PTI.
He said India and the Netherlands were also looking at developing crops that could withstand water stress and higher temperatures.
Erkens said cooperation was needed to improve farm productivity and incomes, particularly by adapting advanced agricultural technologies to local conditions.
An 18-member delegation of Dutch companies and organisations from the seed, horticulture and value-chain sectors is accompanying Erkens to explore business partnerships in India.
“The aim of this trip is to strengthen our trade relations and our broad partnership and to open the door for Dutch business in India,” Erkens said earlier in a statement.
In Mumbai, he is scheduled to attend the Anuga FoodTec expo and meet representatives of the seed sector. In Bengaluru, he will participate in a trade visit with the Dutch delegation and meet Karnataka’s horticulture minister, according to the programme.
In Bengaluru, he will also open the Agricon HortiConnect Expo and the Dutch pavilion and visit cold-chain company NewCold. The visit will conclude with an agrifood innovation event involving start-ups and scale-ups. PTI FHK RHL
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