“India’s Use of Digital Tools to Promote Farmer Interests in the Netherlands”

Silvio Erkens | Photo credit: TH

“The way smartphones, software and artificial intelligence are being used in India to help farmers improve productivity is something the Netherlands can learn from,” Silvio Erkens, the Dutch minister for food security, fisheries and horticulture, said on Thursday.

Mr Erkens said India’s experience in using digital tools to support a large number of smallholder farmers was of interest to the Netherlands. “It is something that the Netherlands is also looking at, something that we can learn from you (India),” he said in an interaction with The Hindu.

Mr. Erkens was in Bengaluru with a delegation of 18 Dutch businesses and organizations to explore opportunities for cooperation in horticulture, seed technology, water management and sustainable food production.

The minister said that India and the Netherlands are “natural partners” in agriculture, with both countries bringing different strengths to the sector. “Although the Netherlands is a small country with a population of 18 million, it is the second largest exporter of agricultural goods in the world after the United States,” he said, adding that India, on the other hand, produces agricultural goods on a much larger scale and is struggling to innovate.

“I think bringing the two of us together is a big win-win opportunity that can increase farmers’ incomes and yields,” he said.

Climate resistant seeds

Discussing areas where the two countries could work together, Mr. Erkens pointed to water management as one of the immediate priorities, noting that the Netherlands had experienced an unusually dry summer this year.

He outlined three areas of focus: rainwater storage through horticultural systems, the use of precision irrigation and monitoring technologies, and the development of seeds that can withstand longer periods of drought. “Technologies like drip irrigation, combined with artificial intelligence and monitoring systems, could help give a plant just the amount of water it needs at the right time,” he said.

Another priority was to work with the seed sectors in both countries to develop varieties that are more resistant to drought and climate change, he added.

“We really need to accelerate innovation in this cycle because I think if you look at climate change, it’s going to accelerate as well, and we don’t have 10 to 15 years, which are normal production cycles for new seeds,” he said.

Cooperation between India and the Netherlands

On seed cooperation, Mr. Erkens said that discussions are underway with the Union Government as well as with states like Maharashtra to intensify the cooperation in the coming months. The India-Dutch Seed Forum, which brings together Dutch and Indian seed companies, was also meeting regularly to further deepen cooperation, he said.

Tariffs remain a barrier

Asked about obstacles to greater cooperation between India and the Netherlands, Mr. Erkens said that tariffs have been an issue in the past, although non-tariff barriers have also affected cooperation.

He said the proposed free trade agreement between India and the EU, once it comes into force, could help resolve some of the tariff barriers. Discussions with the Indian government also indicated an openness to greater cooperation, he said. “The discussions have been very positive. I think there is indeed an openness on India’s side to work more with the Netherlands as well,” he said.

Published – 01 Oct 2026 21:49 IST