India might not be the first state to cross your judgment when thinking of ' horticulture , ' but with over 1 billion citizens , who are more and more witting about what they eat on , it ’s an exceptionally attractive mart . That is why participants from the programme Partners for International Business ( PIB ) recently explored India with ten company from the sector . We spoke with one of them , Alex van der Meulen , in his daily life sentence exportation director at Meteor Systems .
From left to right : Desh Ramnath ( DGD ) , Aadesh Shah ( Viscon ) , Huib Koerts ( Bayer ) , Carine Eijkelkamp ( innovationquarter ) , Alex van der Meulen en Hidde Huisintveld ( Lumiforte ) , Wierd Vonk ( Hoogendoorn ) and Rick Nobel ( Agricultural attaché Consulate general of the kingdom of the Netherlands )
" India is still second in the world when it occur to population , and in the future , the land will likely become figure one . A vast number of mass , which also means a vast figure of mouths to tip . "
Besides , Indians need to eat healthier , sees Alex , rather naturalize with as picayune pesticides as potential . Cultivation currently takes property mostly with blue - tech greenhouses and in open fields . " I wait to see this modification in the upcoming 5 - 10 years , " shares Alex . " In The Netherlands , we also started with low-down - tech and step by step became more and more innovative . "
A look into an Indian greenhouseHow does an mediocre greenhouse feel in India ? " They ’re often tunnels or foil greenhouses or net menage , covered with insect gauze . " Much cultivation still takes post in open fields , although there are also agriculturist that grow on coconuts . " That substrate they then repose on the soil in the nursery . "
Regarding applied science , most Amerindic greenhouse are supply with a drip irrigation system . " Some raiser possess an irrigation computer , while others simply rick on the tap . You also have a few who project something out themselves : turn a coca - cola bottle upside down with a hose underneath , and you have yourself a sprinkler system . "
In a few greenhouses , screens also pay heed suspended - a shading or dirt ball screen - with some more straightforward engineering , such as a fan to free the greenhouse of strong aviation . " And in herbal cultivation , we also saw an occasional NFT system of rules . "
Mainly tomato plant and sweet pepperSo , what is being cultivated in such a greenhouse ? " Mainly tomatoes and sweet capsicum , and some cucumber . No strawberry because you ’re not allowed to import bumblebees or love bees in India , " knows Alex . " Furthermore , lots of herb are develop , such as basil and coriander , and also Spinacia oleracea ; significant ingredients in Indian culinary art . "
Technological developmentsWhen asked about the first stride towards more engineering in Amerindic greenhouses , Alex name regulating temperature and more recirculation of piss . " Water becomes progressively scarcer , so there ’s a lot to save by making use of a closed organisation . Moreover , you immediately become less attached to the land , improving both the air circulation underneath the plant and the dehydration , which in turn reduces the chance of mould . "
mould and plant life homogeneity are still a considerable problems . " Yet , raw pesticides are also being used next to chemical . For instance , Koppert Biological Systems has been in India for some time already . "
Besides , such culture leave in less environmental contamination . With a closed organization , foodstuffs and others do n’t end up in the dirt .
Possibilities for suppliersSo , positivist development and possibility for Dutch supplier . In this deference , Alex suspects that the first stone’s throw will issue forth from the south of India . " Cultivation closer to the equator is well possible , although it is strong , so you ’ll have to do something with the climate . Also , financially that part of the nation offers more possibility . "
Initially , this will happen in little steps . " Here and there , an upgrade . But when they see how well it work , there ’s a possibility that when building new locations , they instantly would go for a modern greenhouse , with all available feature . "
The companies that are lined up to supply these features are , of course , phallus of PIB : Meteor Systems , Van der Hoeven , Horti XS , Koppert , Lumiforte , Svensson , Priva , Bayer Seeds , Ridder , Hoogendoorn en Viscon – with bunch coordinators DGD , Innovation Quarter and Rotterdam Partners . " A o.k. group , " as Alex calls them , " with a complete provision for the Native American industry . "
In November , this club visited India for the first fourth dimension for an explorative sojourn of a calendar week to Bangalore , Pune , and Mumbai . The future foretell more visits , but perhaps even more important is considering the next steps for PIB . " Will we go about this as a group or not ? That is still to be decided . One way or another , we remain in contact with all parties involved . "
For more information : HortiRoad2Indiawww.hortiroad2india.com
