Henk Van Voorbergen is the renowned name in the ‘world of floriculture’. Under the guidance of Henk Van Voorbergen, a globally renowned floriculture expert from Holland, the tulip growers in Kashmir have learnt various new techniques.
In an exclusive interview with ‘The Kashmir Scenario’ Henk Van Voorbergen talks to Shahzad Hussain Hamdani & Rameez Makhdoomi.
A brief Introduction about yourself and what brought you to Kashmir?
I had grown up among flowers and was since my youth associated with flower trade. In 2007, I came in contact with United Nations and they were connected with Tulip development programme in India and this brought me to Kashmir and I first understood the culture and geographical features of the region and also played a prominent part in development of Tulip Garden in Kashmir.
I was lucky enough to meet a dynamic florist like Nusrat Jahan Ara who possessed the right sort of acumen
How vital is the floriculture activity for the economy of Holland?
The Floriculture sector forms an important part of the economy of Holland. The agriculture sectors nearly contribute 60 to 65 percent to the economy of Holland and out of this floriculture nearly contribute 40 to 45 percent.
What should the farmers’ out here do to make floriculture activity more lucrative?
The farmers here need to observe the know how of the outside and change their attitude as they are more often than not lethargic in attitude.
Can the Tulip Garden of Kashmir compete the globally renowned Tulip Garden of Holland?
If the concerned authorities act like this it would take another 500 years for Tulip garden of Kashmir to compete with the tulip garden of Holland. Those who are at helm of affairs need to bring more dynamism in their work. I would quote an example once during a visit to Tulip Garden with the Ex- Chief Minister, the officials were continuously thrusting on buy-back system to survive the tulip productivity but the CM rightly snubbed them by stating we need to be self-sufficient in Tulip production and he was right.
What is your take on the support provided by the Government to those associated with the Flower trade out here?
I would like to state that virtually there is no Government support to dynamic people like Nusrat Jehan Ara who are working on their own to grow in this trade. It is the dynamism and zeal of such people that has attracted me to Kashmir.
How would you rate the floriculture potential of the Kashmir Valley?
I would like to state without a hint of doubt that the Valley of Kashmir possesses the best geographical conditions vis-à-vis the potential of carrying floriculture related activities. Kashmir has unarguably one of the best soils, altitude and climate to carry out floriculture activity and other agriculture activities in a lucrative manner. You people are virtually sitting on green treasures and the need is to tap this potential.
What is your take on the technology used in farms of Kashmir?
From the paradigm of technology, I feel that farms of Kashmir are stuck in middle ages.
Do you have training centers for farmers in Holland?
Yes we have private and semi-Government training centers running to train the people in diverse agriculture & floriculture activities.
What is the difference between the farmers of Kashmir and that in Holland?
There is one big problem that is the attitude of the people here .In Holland we are accustomed to work for more than 12 years in agriculture field except on Sunday when we go to church.
Here I found more talk and talk .In Holland we are quick in implementing decisions. Another tragedy is here that farmers just follow same monotonous trends .If at one place a farmer grows the rice the whole village grows rice without looking into actual potential.
How do you rate the Agriculture expertise outhere?
The experts know a lot in Kashmir but lack the ability to implement decisions and also lack the pragmatic activity.