DW BUREAU / CHANDIGARH

Punjab will have a dedicated horticulture experience and learning centre on the lines the World Horti Center ecosystem, officials said on Monday.

As a part of his visit for investment promotion outreach in the Netherlands on Monday, the Chief Minister undertook key visits to leading horticulture institutions, including the World Horti Center (WHC), Westland, and the globally renowned Keukenhof, Lisse, to study best practices in sustainable agriculture, floriculture, and high-efficiency farming systems, said an official statement here.

He mooted the idea of establishing such a centre in Punjab and said that the proposed centre would bring together researchers, academic institutions, industry partners, and government stakeholders to promote innovation, skill development, and the adoption of sustainable agricultural solutions in the state. At the World Horti Center, a global hub for greenhouse horticulture innovation, Mann was received by CEO Puck van Holsteijn and Manager International Business Lenny Dijkshoorn, who led a comprehensive tour of the facility.

Mann said it was a unique experience as they were introduced to the Netherlands' globally acclaimed ecosystem of greenhouse and controlled-environment agriculture, where the integration of technology, research, education, industry, and government has transformed traditional farming into a high-productivity and sustainable sector. He said the key learnings included the effectiveness of greenhouse and advanced indoor farming systems, which significantly enhance crop yields while ensuring efficient water usage, reduced reliance on pesticides, and improved farmer incomes compared to conventional open-field farming.

Mann said this can be helpful for the state to give a major push to crop diversification and bring the farmers out of the vicious circle of water-guzzling crops.

The CM said that the role of automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and precision irrigation systems in optimizing plant growth and resource efficiency, along with innovative water management practices such as rainwater harvesting, reuse of irrigation water, and controlled nutrient delivery systems to ensure climate-resilient agricultural production is also a new learning. He said both sides explored avenues for collaboration, including knowledge transfer and technology partnerships and in principle agreed to it.

Earlier, Mann visited Keukenhof, one of the world's most iconic floriculture destinations, where they were apprised of a unique operational model where nearly 7 million flower bulbs are grown and planted annually during autumn beginning October, and bloom in a precisely managed 7'8 week window starting March.

The CM said that spread across approximately 32 hectares and maintained through a collaborative ecosystem of growers and industry stakeholders, Keukenhof represents a highly structured, export-oriented horticulture model integrating production, tourism, and global marketing. He said the visit provided valuable insights for Punjab in developing floriculture clusters, strengthening export linkages, and promoting agri-tourism through a coordinated and market-driven approach.

Mann said learnings from both visits are expected to support Punjab's transition towards high-value, technology-driven agriculture, with a focus on sustainability, productivity enhancement, and diversification of the agricultural economy.

He said this visit will go a long way in strengthening economic cooperation and promoting Punjab as a preferred investment destination.

(editor@dailyworld.in)