GDF India Trip 22 -25 April New Delhi

Around VIV Select India 2026, where we hosted a successful Dairy Session together with our business partners De Heus Animal Nutrition India, Holm & Laue and VIV, we organized the India Trip with a small international delegation around

At the VIV Select India our  GDF Workshop, “India’s Dairy in Global Context,” was opened by Mrs. Marion van Schaik, Agriculture Counsellor of the Dutch Embassy in India, and chaired by Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Vice Chancellor of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. 

The session was moderated by our president Ad van Velde and brought together speakers from our valued business partners: De Heus, Mr. Rutger Oudejans from De Heus India; Holm & Laue Mr. Hartmut Bock, who unfortunately had to cancel due to health issues, our valued members Deepak Raj Tushir and Earl Rattray from Binsar Farms, and S. Daljeet Singh Gill from the Progressive Dairy Farmers Association Punjab. Topics included dairy development, farm management, technology, feed, and cooperation between India and Europe. It was a succeful and interactive session with a full audience of farmers and agriculture associates. 

After the conference, the following day we continued into Haryana for some interesting farm visits. Starting at Binsar Farms in Sonipat, where Deepak Raj and Earl Rattray welcomed us onto the farm and shared their experiences and vision for the future of dairy farming. The visit gave us a good insight into how modern dairy farming is developing in India. What stood out during the trip was the level of entrepreneurship and the practical way many of these farms are developing step by step. We saw strong examples of efficient use of resources, recycling systems, and farmers building sustainable businesses with a clear long-term focus.

After the visit to Binsar Farms, Deepak also arranged a visit to a traditional water buffalo farm, where we experienced a completely different farming routine and management system. Buffalo farming plays an important role within the Indian dairy sector and can be highly profitable due to the strong market demand for buffalo milk. Because buffalo milk contains a higher fat percentage and has a longer shelf life than cow’s milk, it often receives premium prices from dairy cooperatives and processors. It was interesting for the group to see the differences between cow and buffalo farming and the important position buffalo milk still holds within India.

The following day, we visited Rohini Dairy Farm, known for its work in dairy innovation and regenerative agriculture together with Nestlé. Discussions focused on soil health, feeding, sustainability, and the daily challenges farmers face. It was interesting to see how productivity and sustainability are combined in practice.

The next stop was visiting the newest facility of De Heus. We were warmly welcomed by Rutger Oudejans, CEO of De Heus Animal Nutrition India, and his team. After a nutritious lunch, we received an interesting tour at their facility of their new feed mill and gained more insight into the company’s activities.

Later that day, we continued to Samret Dairy Farm in Kurukshetra. Although different in setup and scale, we recognized the same drive to improve, invest, and continue developing for the future. 

What impressed us most was how much has already been achieved within a relatively short period of time. The farms we visited showed ambition, practical thinking, and openness to new ideas and technology.

Visits like these reinforced our belief that India will continue to grow into one of the world’s leading dairy producing countries. The scale, the entrepreneurial mindset, and the willingness to invest in knowledge and development are clearly there.