Lucknow : In a significant move to uplift the farming community in Uttar Pradesh, the state government is set to establish its first Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence in horticulture with technical collaboration from the Netherlands. This ambitious project will be developed in Sonikpur village of Trivediganj block in Barabanki district, marking a major milestone in modernizing vegetable and floriculture farming in the state.
The decision was finalized during a high-level meeting chaired by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Horticulture, Agricultural Marketing, Agri-Foreign Trade and Agricultural Exports, Dinesh Pratap Singh, who emphasized the project’s transformative potential for farmers across the region.
Spanning around seven hectares of land, the Centre of Excellence will deploy advanced Dutch technology for cultivating high-value crops such as tomatoes, colored capsicums, cucumbers, and various flowers. The center will also feature a modern nursery, demonstration units, and hands-on training facilities for farmers. The proposed facility is strategically located near the Sultanpur Highway, enabling access and benefits to farmers from Raebareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Lucknow, and other adjoining districts.
“This is a historic step towards making our farmers more prosperous. The Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence will bring global agricultural technology to the grassroots level and significantly boost farm income,” said Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh. He added that this would be the first such initiative in the state in collaboration with the Netherlands, and expressed confidence that it would serve as a model for excellence in horticulture.
The minister extended his gratitude to Dutch agricultural expert Mr. Joop van Balen and his team for their active collaboration. He assured that the government would expedite the implementation of the project on the ground and strengthen international cooperation further in the future.
During the meeting, Joop van Balen presented an overview of Dutch technology and confirmed that his team had already conducted soil, water, and climate assessments at the proposed site. He stated that the project would enable high-volume and high-quality crop production, especially of export-grade produce.
Senior officials and experts from the Horticulture Department, including Dr. Rajeev Verma (Joint Director) and the District Horticulture Officer of Barabanki, were also present in the meeting, reflecting the department’s strong commitment to the success of this landmark initiative.
This Indo-Dutch collaboration is expected to usher in a new era of innovation and profitability in Uttar Pradesh’s horticulture sector.
