Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Ultimately the objective is to realise a proper and realistic implementation of an
enormous exercise, where all relevant actors contribute and play their own role, and
where separate sectors contribute financially in a proportionate way.
1. The Dutch situation
The Netherlands is a small country with a total surface area of 41,500 sq kilometres,
of which 7,500 sq km is water, including estuaries, sea, major rivers and lakes. It is a
typical delta area where land meets water. Much of this area consists of artificial land
created by man. The lowest point in the Netherlands lies at 6.74 metres below sea level.
In the absence of dunes, dikes and other defences, 66% of the Netherlands would be
flooded on a regular basis. There are hundreds of polders in the Netherlands — sea
polders, river polders and the drained and reclaimed lakes and ponds. An extensive and
complex system of ditches (over 400,000 kilometres) and waterways serves to manage
the groundwater level in these polders round the clock. Every drop of rain that falls in the
polders must be pumped out (Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water
Management, 2004a). Because of the effects of climate change and the fact that in the
western part of the country the ground level is descending, the Netherlands changed its
water policy to keep water manageable, from fighting against water to living with water.
This means that water will be able to follow a more natural course and further reduce the
risk of flooding (source: Water in the Netherlands, 2004- 2005). The total management
costs of the water system (water quantity management of surface and groundwater) are
approximately 1.6 billion Euros per year. Costs for water quality management are
estimated at 3.2 billion euros per year (Raad voor financiele verhoudingen, 2005).
Because of the autonomous developments, and to meet the objectives of a European
ambition to improve water quality, considerably more investments in water management
are expected.
At the same time the Netherlands is a very densely populated area with
452 inhabitants per sq kilometre (EU-25: 114). Hence there is a high intensity of land use
and therefore pressure on the rural area is considerable.
People have to live, work and
relax there. Space is also needed for agricultural production and transport, while valuable
nature areas and unique landscapes must be conserved for future generations. A balance
must continually be struck between the various uses of the rural areas. Some two thirds of
the land is used for agriculture. Woodland and nature reserves make up approximately
12% of the total area (Ministry of LNV, 2005). The Netherlands, with France and the US,
is one of the largest net exporters of agricultural products and foods in the world. This is
remarkable in view of its small area and high population density. The agri-complex is
significant for the Dutch economy and accounts for 10% of our national income. The
development of Dutch agriculture and horticulture in recent decades can be characterised
in terms of expansion, intensification, increased productivity and farm enlargement.
(Ministry of LNV, 2005). Clearly agriculture plays an important role in the Netherlands,
in economic terms but also for the many other contributions of agriculture like its role in
shaping and maintaining the landscape.
Looking at the relationship between agriculture and water in the Netherlands, the
search for sustainable development possibilities for Dutch agriculture within this crowded
country is at the forefront. Sustainable in the sense of people, profit and planet, and taking
account of the ambitions and objectives of the EU Water policy, while also providing
space for other interests such as housing, nature, recreation, industry and mobility. The
Netherlands is aware of the interconnected nature of these aspects and hence also of the
need to examine developments as an interrelated whole. The ministry of Agriculture,
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