In a world where ensuring adequate food supplies for a growing population is an urgent challenge, the Netherlands is one country that’s punching well above its weight. Its total agricultural land area is many hundred times smaller than the leading food growers but it is among the top countries in terms of agricultural exports. How does it achieve this? And are there lessons from its agricultural practices that India could adopt?

1.NETHERLANDS IS WORLD NO. 2 IN AGRI EXPORTS…
In 2016, food and agricultural exports of the Netherlands’ was worth $80.3bn. The country was second only to the US, which had $99.8bn worth of
exports in the same year. India was no. 13 with a total value of $25.5 bn.

2. …EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE LEAST AGRI LAND AMONG TOP 5 PRODUCERS

LESS IS MORE: HOW THE DUTCH DO IT
With the motto, “Twice as much food using half as many resources”, Dutch scientists and farmers have, since 2000, worked to reduce dependence on key resources required for cultivation. Dutch poultry and livestock producers have reduced their use of antibiotics by 60%.
THEY HARDLY USE WATER TO GROW CROPS
Water use for key crops has been brought down by as much as 90% while use of chemical pesticides in greenhouse cultivation has been done
away with altogether.