More cooperation between Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Cooperative Council for Agriculture and Horticulture and Agriterra

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation, Ben Knapen, will intensify the cooperation with the National Cooperative Council for Agriculture and Horticulture (NCR) and Agriterra. He signed an agreement this Monday at the NCR-Agriterra symposium on opportunities for Dutch cooperatives in developing countries.

The signing of the covenant by Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Affairs Knapen, Ruud Galle (NCR director) and Albert Jan Maat (chairman of Agriterra) was the conclusion of a fruitful meeting on the possibilities for Dutch cooperatives in developing countries. In his speech  Ben Knapen praised the tradition of Dutch agricultural cooperatives and "the added value the Netherlands has to offer for promoting self-sufficiency and economic growth in developing countries". The knowledge of the Dutch agri-business sector is essential to improve food security around the world. "Doing nothing is not an option," Knapen said.

The other speakers equally appealed to the present representatives of the cooperative sector to apply their knowledge and to assist in stimulating entrepreneurship in developing countries. Not simply to improve the world with their experience, they themselves will be better off  by focusing on their corporate social responsibility, motivated employees and knowledge of and access to new international markets. Or as Albert Jan Maat, said: "It is important for the Dutch agricultural sector given the importance of relationships with partner organisations in countries with emerging economies. That connection also opens avenues for Dutch companies operating in the agricultural sector or related to those sectors. There are definitely opportunities here! Knowledge and skill of our cooperatives are indispensable". Henk de Groot, co-owner of onion seed company 'De Groot en Slot' showed why his company has been working for more than five years with onion growers in Niger and how both 'De Groot en Slot' and the Niger farmers benefit from this cooperation.

In the covenant between the Ministry, the NCR and Agriterra appointments are stipulated to intensify and expand the cooperation between the three parties. In this way, the Ministry will make extensive use of the knowledge and experience of Agriterra and the agri-business sector for the Dutch contribution to policy development of organisations such as FAO and the World Bank. The agri-business sector and Agriterra will be involved in agricultural trade missions. And next year, the UN proclaimed International Year of Cooperatives, Agriterra, the Dutch cooperatives and the Ministry will join forces to initiate activities and continue to propagate this cooperative business model in developing countries.