Pakistan and Netherlands can cooperate in the field of floriculture; this was said by the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhar Imam while chairing a meeting with the Ambassador of Netherland, H.E. Woulter Plomp. Both countries can collaborate in fresh cut plants, flowers and bulbs. Syed Fakhar Imam highlighted the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and Netherlands, which spans over last many years and appreciate Netherland’s assistance in ensuring food security in Pakistan. He appreciated Netherlands’ efforts to provide technical assistance and trainings to Pakistan. Federal Minister informed that Pakistan and Netherlands have vast potential for collaboration in the field of Research in Food Security (Agriculture & Livestock). He appraised about the strength of livestock sector in Pakistan and the need for value addition to animal origin products (meat, dairy, etc). Syed Fakhar Imam invited Netherlands investment in dairy farming, agribusiness, food processing. The Dutch agriculture sector is diversified and covers a wide range of livestock sector. Pakistan is importing genetic material (Semen) from Netherlands for Artificial insemination to local non-descript animals and also import diary/ breeding cattle from Netherlands. The Netherlands dairy cooperative i.e. Friesland Campina is the 6th largest dairy cooperative in the world, acquired 51% shares of Engro Foods Limited (EFL) in 2016 and became a subsidiary of Friesland Campina. EFL has sizeable dairy farm setup at Nara, Sukkur (Sindh) where around 5000 dairy cattle are kept for milk production. EFL is playing a significant role in the dairy economy of Pakistan. Pakistan imports more than 7000 metric tons seed potato from Netherlands and valuing around Euro 1 million per annum. Prior to 18-09-2017, DPP was allowing import of seed potato from Netherlands based on visual inspection.Later on DPP evaluated, revised seed potato import conditions based on scientific justification and in accordance with PQR 1967 and harmonized them with USA, India, Australia, and China. On the invitation of Dutch side a delegation from Pakistan visited Netherland in July, 2018 and conducted on-spot inspection of production sites, crop production, pest surveillance and plant health system, research activities, quarantine inspection and testing system at NPPO, Netherlands and held discussions with various stake holders and it was agreed that Seed potatoes from Netherlands may be imported with the additional declaration and phytosanitary measures agreed between DPP and NPPO, Netherlands and Only seed potatoes shall be entitled to be imported inspected and certified by NAK and BKD (plant health inspection agencies of NPPO, Netherlands) during growing season and at the time of export from their registered farms. The Netherlands is the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products, after the USA. Together with the USA and France, the Netherlands is one of the world’s three leading producers of vegetables and fruit. It supplies a quarter of the vegetables that are exported from Europe. The agri-business is one of the driving forces behind the Dutch Economy. In recent decades, farms became larger in scale and production became more intensive. As a result, fertilizers and manures made more impact on the countryside. Dutch agriculture covers a wide range of livestock and plant cultivation sectors that include arable and dairy farming, cultivation under glass and tree-growing. The Netherlands and the Pakistan share an interest to expand business ties in agriculture and livestock. Pakistan and the Netherlands enjoy friendly relations. Netherlands is one of the largest trading partners of Pakistan in the European Union. The Dutch agricultural sector produces mostly wheat, fodder maize and potatoes. The horticultural sector focuses on vegetables, flower bulbs, sweet peppers and roses mostly through greenhouses. The Netherlands has a highly mechanized agricultural sector that provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. After the United States, the Netherlands is the biggest exporter of agricultural produce in the world, exporting 65 billion Euros worth of vegetables, fruit, flowers, meat and dairy products each year approximately. The Netherlands exports two-thirds of the world’s total fresh-cut plants, flowers, and bulbs. The Netherlands exports a quarter of the entire world’s tomatoes, and one-fifteenth of the world’s apples. The Dutch government aims to drastically reduce energy and gas consumption in the greenhouse horticulture sector.
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