The Netherlands has developed into one of the main players for seeding materials in the Indian horticulture and fruit cultivation over the last few decades. The procedures for introducing new varieties are long. The Netherlands is in conversation with the Indian authorities to lower this threshold.
India is mostly an agrarian community. Although the number of cities with over a million people is now far above fifty, 60 percent still live in the country and half of the 1.3 billion inhabitants are closely involved in cultivation. The cultivation is mostly small scale. There are around 150 million companies and the average company is getting smaller due to division of land among children.
Big horticultural country
The labour intensive horticulture suits the agrarian company structure of the country well. After China, India is the largest producer of fruit and vegetables and even the largest of just fruit. India is the largest producer of okra and the second largest producer of cabbage and aubergine. The seed industry in India has developed rapidly in recent years. Vegetable crops are becoming increasingly important for Indian growers. This is due to the changing diet, but also due to problems grain cultivation. The production of rice is becoming more difficult in many states due to an increasing water shortage.
Introduction of modern technology
State Governments stimulate a transition to horticulture by making modern technology accessible to smaller growers. The Netherlands is also contributing to this through the so-called Centres of Excellence and setting up horticultural chains.
Insufficient protection
One of the problems here is that India hasn't signed UPOV and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA), founded under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act 2001, doesn't offer enough protection. But it is mainly the scant enforcement of the rules that mean the new foreign varieties are rarely introduced.
Although they are the second largest producer of fruit and vegetables, the Indian export of fruit and veg is limited. This isn't surprising due to the huge internal market. Quality and food safety are also barriers to export.
Dutch seed producers more active
In the eighties the seed productions was of the Open Pollinated Variety (OPV). OPV seeds resulted in a low production and average quality. It was in those days that Dutch seed producers started exploring the Indian market. India offered Dutch companies not only a market, but also developed as a meeting point for research and development. Almost all seed producers, such as Bejo Seeds, Rijk Zwaan, Nunhems Seeds, East West and Enza Seeds, have not only a production but also a R&D facility in India.
The Netherlands is one of the largest players
The Netherlands has now developed into one of the main players in seeding material. This is for the fruit and veg sector. The first Dutch seeding good companies have opened a R&D facility in India. As in many other countries, the problem of growers rights is at play here. The longer access procedure is also a barrier. The fastest procedure for getting imported varieties on the market takes around five years and consists of two parts. Firstly, it takes two years to test in quarantine and then two to three years to carry out a DUS test (Distinctiveness, Uniformity, Stability).
Talks with Indian authorities
After these tests it is permitted to sell the new variety. The Netherlands is now in discussion with India to have the Dutch DUS test accepted in India. This would considerably shorten the procedure for the introduction of new varieties. The Netherlands also has a close collaboration with India in fruit cultivation. The Indian apple and pear cultivation is aged. The production in the old high orchards is low and the quality is mediocre. The Dutch rootstocks and varieties are well known in India.
Profit from investments
As is often the case with Dutch knowledge, technology and seeding material: it takes time to convince the Indians that the Dutch product is sometimes more expensive, but that in the end it's about the turnover of the investments. And with our material it can often be favourable.
Thanks to a good reputation in the cultivation areas of India, chain focused solutions and the Dutch institution aimed at longer term relationships, the opportunities for Dutch companies in the area of seeding material are big.
Source: Agroberichten Buitenland