Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the state government will set up a skill development centre in collaboration with the Netherlands to provide modern technology to farmers on potato growing, dairy farming and floriculture.
Besides, the Dutch government will also help in cleaning Yamuna in Agra and assist the state government in sprucing up sewerage treatment in the Taj city.
An MoU was signed between the Netherlands and Government of UP on Thursday. On behalf of the Netherland, its Ambassador in India Alphonsus Stoelinga and Chief Secretary of UP Deepak Singhal singed the document in presence of the Chief Minister and other senior officials.
As per the agreement, the Netherlands will help in solid waste management, development of infrastructure in cities, water management, revival of water bodies, transport management besides reclamation of 1500 acre land in Kanpur basin area.
The CM said that the objective of the agreement is to involve Dutch agri-business in the agriculture, food processing, and agri-logistics sectors.
“Both parties agreed to do so by investigating and jointly setting up training and knowledge centres on horticulture, potato production, agrilogistics, cold chain and value addition (processing). One of the main objectives of the UP administration is the development of knowledge and skills for farmers in UP,” Yadav said
Chief secretary Deepak Singhal said that the CM had visited Netherlands in September, 2014 and he was inspired by the Dutch system to improve production, marketing, distribution and processing of its farm produce.
“The CM has asked officials to use that knowledge to increase income of the farmers. This MoU will help in translating the CM's dream into reality,” he said.