Face2News/Chandigarh
A high-level delegation from Haryana, led by Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana, concluded a successful educational visit to the Netherlands and France on September 3-5, 2025. The visit, which began on September 2, aimed to study advanced farming techniques, modern horticulture methods, and international market trends to modernize Haryana's agricultural sector.
The delegation started with an auction event on September 3 in Naaldwijk, Netherlands, where Minister Rana interacted with flower experts on sustainable practices, pest-resistant varieties, and export strategies, offering valuable insights for Haryana's farmers. On September 4, they visited the Royal FloraHolland auction center in Aalsmeer, the world's largest floral market, spanning 128 acres and handling 2 million flowers daily. The cooperative, run by producer farmers, facilitates 100-200 million euros in daily transactions, trading 11,469 flower and 11,764 plant varieties.
The team explored energy-efficient greenhouses producing 12 billion flowers annually and visited Keukenhof Gardens to study plant conservation. On September 5, they traveled by train from Paris to Rungis, touring the Rungis International Market, a 580-acre wholesale food hub. The "Pavilion Organic," launched in 2017, offers 32 organic products, supporting France’s 6% organic farmland (2.8 million hectares), a figure steadily rising.
Minister Rana discussed enhancing supply chains with French traders, planning to adopt similar systems in Haryana to increase farmers' income and product quality. He highlighted the ongoing development of India’s largest horticulture hub in Kundli, spanning 544 acres with a ₹2,595 crore budget, 45% complete. This hub will cover 50 lakh square feet, handle 20 lakh tons of produce annually, and include 14,907 cars, 3,305 trucks, 17 auction/trading sheds, and 13 modern buildings.
Rana termed the visit a game-changer for Haryana’s agriculture, with lessons from Aalsmeer and Rungis set to elevate farmers to global standards and strengthen the state’s economy.