New Delhi: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed a 70-year lease agreement with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to transfer the land for the establishment of a Basmati & Organic Training Centre-cum-Demo Farm at Tanda Bijaisi, Pilibhit.
Under the agreement, the Basmati & Organic Training Centre-cum-Demo Farm will be developed over an area of approximately seven acres. The centre will be equipped with facilities including an auditorium, museum, and gallery on Basmati and organic farming, a conference room, a laboratory, and storage space for organic farming inputs. The facility is expected to support training and capacity building for Basmati and organic farmers, and also serve as a resource centre for agricultural experts and students, according to a Commerce and Industry Ministry statement.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada appreciated the initiative and highlighted the potential of Pilibhit as a major Basmati-producing region, and emphasised the importance of expanding organic cultivation and called for greater farmer engagement.
MoS Prasada suggested incorporating an AI-based interactive museum at the centre to provide information and experiential learning for visitors and students, along with establishing a dedicated outlet for quality Basmati seeds and organic inputs for farmers.
He also unveiled India’s first AI-based Basmati Paddy Survey project (2026–2028), to be implemented by APEDA in collaboration with the All-India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA).
As per the information shared by the ministry, the project will cover nearly 4 million hectares, collect data from over 150,000 ground-truth points, and engage with more than 500,000 farmers. It aims to support precise crop assessment, varietal identification, scientific advisory services, and improved export planning.
It was also announced that the upcoming centre has been designated as an All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) centre for national-level Basmati trials, as recognised at the 61st Annual Rice Research Group Meeting.
Pilibhit will become the third AICRP centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Basmati GI zone after Nagina (Bijnor) and BEDF Modipuram, following the operationalisation of the facility.
This will facilitate systematic testing and evaluation of new Basmati varieties suited to the region’s agro-climatic conditions.
