Dutch initiative to drive high-value horticulture in India’s peri-urban regions
Strawberries being grown in greenhouses
Production of high value horticultural crops such as strawberry and cherry tomatoes is likely to go all round the year soon, catering to the rising urban demand in the country. A Dutch public-private partnership is set to introduce advanced greenhouse technologies and expertise to Indian farmers, powered by artificial intelligence and internet of things (IoT).
The initiative, NLHortiRoad2India, brings together Netherlands’ world-leading horticulture ecosystem to support Indian farmers in transitioning towards modern and sustainable greenhouse farming. The partnership is also fostering start-up collaborations between Indian and Dutch innovators to jointly develop technologies and establish local production units, creating employment, reducing costs, and bolstering the regional agri-tech framework across India and Africa, saidDesh Ramnath, India Director at Dutch Greenhouse Delta and Coordinator of NLHortiRoad2India.
The programme aims to promote the cultivation of premium horticultural crops such as strawberries, cherry tomatoes, coloured capsicum and leafy vegetables using high tech greenhouses equipped with AI and IoT enabled precision agri systems. These smart systems help regulate climate conditions, optimise irrigation, and reduce input use, ensuring higher productivity with lower water, energy and chemical consumption, he added.
“We have implemented these technologies across the world including the high temperature areas of the Middle East and will be bringing them to India soon,” Ramnath said.
A view of greenhouse in Netherlands
Three high tech green houses are being set up initially on a pilot basis, one each near Chennai, Bengaluru and Chandigarh over the next one year to grow high value crops like strawberry, cherry tomatoes and coloured capsicum among others, Ramnath said. Over the next few years, there are likely be some 350-400 such hightech greenhouse units coming up all across the country, he added.
Market linkage with quick commerce
Besides providing the technology, NLHortiRoad2India is helping the Indian farmers/entrepreneurs with access to long-term finance as setting up the high-tech greenhouses is highly capital intensive. It is also providing education, training and market linkages to the producers by connecting them with the quick commerce companies such as Flipkart, Reliance and Zepto among others, Ramnath said. The demand for horticulture products such as fruits and vegetables is on the rise across India and rise of the quick commerce is aiding the trend.
Over the past three years, the NLHortiRoad2India team engaged with hundreds of stakeholders across India to comprehend the real challenges, including post-harvest losses, food safety, labour conditions, grading inefficiencies, and the absence of accessible financing. These insights shaped strategic solutions that led to development of a blueprint, which adopts a holistic ecosystem approach, Ramnath added.
NLHortiRoad2India has also highlighted the urgent need to shift public perception and policy around fresh produce in India, as many of the fruits and vegetables consumed today contain significant chemicals and are grown under unsustainable conditions. With solutions tailored for growers, retailers, chefs, and consumers, the initiative aims to drive India towards safer, more sustainable food choices, Ramnath said adding that the initiative is working with companies like Cropin among others.
“By aligning technology with local requirements, we are unlocking new possibilities for healthier produce and resilient food systems that benefit both nations and inspire global collaboration,” said Tiffany Meijer, Project Manager for International Trade at InnovationQuarter & Rotterdam Partners & Co-coordinator, HortiRoad2India.
The Dutch had introduced the greenhouse agriculture in cut flower production in India way back in the mid ninetees.
Published on November 7, 2025
