India-Netherlands Strengthen Agricultural Cooperation Through Eighth Joint Working Group Meeting

The eighth meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Agriculture between India and the Netherlands was concluded on October 31, 2025, with both nations reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in the agriculture and allied sectors. Held at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi, the meeting was co-chaired by Shri Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary (Horticulture), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and Mr. Guido Landheer from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands. This meeting represents a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two nations, demonstrating their shared vision for advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability.

Mechanism for Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation

Both delegations acknowledged the vital role of the JWG mechanism in fostering sustained agricultural collaboration. By bringing together policymakers and technical experts from both countries, the platform has proven instrumental in addressing shared priorities and challenges within their respective agriculture sectors. The structured dialogue facilitated by the JWG continues to create pathways for meaningful exchange and coordinated policy initiatives.

Centres of Excellence: A Proven Success Model

A cornerstone of India-Netherlands agricultural cooperation has been the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under bilateral collaboration. These facilities have demonstrated remarkable success in disseminating advanced agricultural technologies and supporting farmers on the ground. The CoEs have played a pivotal role in facilitating the production of high-quality planting material and seeds while providing comprehensive training to thousands of farmers across India.

The success of this model has prompted both nations to explore opportunities for scaling up similar initiatives across additional states and horticulture subsectors, thereby extending the benefits of collaborative agricultural development to a broader farmer base.

Expanding Cooperation Across Multiple Sectors

During the meeting, both sides reviewed their ongoing cooperation frameworks and identified promising new areas for collaboration. The scope of India-Netherlands agricultural partnership extends across diverse domains, encompassing phytosanitary cooperation, the seed sector, animal husbandry and dairy, food processing, food safety standards, circular agriculture approaches, and advanced greenhouse technologies. Additionally, both countries prioritized knowledge exchange, innovation-driven initiatives, and the promotion of naturally ventilated polyhouses as emerging focus areas.

This comprehensive approach reflects the two nations' recognition that agricultural advancement requires multifaceted engagement spanning production, processing, quality assurance, and sustainable practices.

Outcomes and Forward Commitment

The discussions held during the meeting were characterized as constructive and result-oriented, leading both delegations to express satisfaction with the substantive engagement. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and related sectors, signaling their intent to deepen existing partnerships and pursue new collaborative opportunities.

This meeting underscores India and the Netherlands' mutual commitment to leveraging their respective expertise and resources for advancing agricultural productivity, sustainability, and farmer prosperity across both nations.