Chandigarh, Apr 22 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday called for expediting collaboration between Dutch multinationals and Punjab Agricultural University for research and sustainable agriculture practices.
Mann, who is on a visit to the Netherlands as part of his government's investment promotion outreach, explored best practices in agriculture and industry to benefit Punjab's farmers, who have played a key role in making the country self-reliant in food production, according to an official release.
"For the sake of the nation, farmers in Punjab have overexploited the state's fertile land and water resources, making it essential to shift away from the wheat-paddy cycle," he said.
Emphasising the way forward, he added, "For this purpose, a major push is needed to crop diversification in the state," adding that the Netherlands can duly help the state a lot in this noble cause.
During his visit to the LT Foods facility in Rotterdam, the company shared its global presence across more than 80 countries and a strong linkage with over one lakh farmers.
The visit focused on sustainable farming practices and expanding Punjab's basmati footprint globally.
Stressing the importance of aligning with international standards, Mann stated, "There is a need for sustainable farming, including reducing pesticide usage to meet international standards and to promote basmati rice in the international market."
Following this engagement, LT Foods gave consent to establish a Centre of Excellence for Basmati Rice in Punjab, along with a pilot for assured procurement and low-pesticide cultivation.
Highlighting the economic challenges in farming, he said, "With the squeezing margins of profit, agriculture is no longer a profitable proposition due to which farmers are facing a lot of problems for their basic subsistence."
The production potential of the available technology of the crops had already been nearly exploited and has now almost reached a plateau in growth, he said.
Mann also visited the Floriculture Auction Market at Aalsmeer, the world's largest flower and plant marketplace, where he observed the Dutch auction system and its highly integrated ecosystem of production, logistics and global distribution.
He emphasised Punjab's intent to adopt similar models to strengthen agri-value chains and enhance farmers' incomes.
In a detailed meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Government of the Netherlands, led by senior officials including the Director-General for Agriculture, Mann highlighted the strong India'Netherlands partnership in agriculture.
"Punjab is keen to adopt advanced agricultural systems of the Netherlands, including the use of automation, AI, drones, and data-driven crop management, as well as innovations in greenhouse farming," he said.
He also proposed potential partnerships between Punjab Agricultural University and leading Dutch institutions such as Wageningen University & Research, particularly in applied research, innovation and knowledge exchange.
During his meeting with the leadership of VNO-NCW (Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers), Mann stressed the need to build a structured partnership to facilitate sustained engagement between Dutch companies and Punjab.
He highlighted that the evolving India-EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to create new opportunities for trade and investment, noting that both Punjab and the Netherlands can mutually benefit in sectors such as IT/ITeS, dairy, food processing and agri-value chains, including potato production.
Extending an invitation to global investors, Mann said, "Punjab offers a conducive ecosystem for investment." He invited Dutch companies to participate in upcoming agri-tech and industrial platforms, including engagements with industry body CII.