New Delhi: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has signed a 70-year lease agreement with the Department of Agriculture and the Government of Uttar Pradesh to establish a Basmati and Organic Training Centre-cum-Demonstration Farm in Pilibhit, aimed at strengthening India’s Basmati rice ecosystem.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the proposed centre will be developed over nearly seven acres at Tanda Bijaisi in Pilibhit. The facility will include an auditorium, museum and gallery on Basmati and organic farming, conference room, laboratory, and storage space for organic inputs.
The centre is expected to serve as a hub for farmer training, capacity building, and research support for agricultural experts and students. Once operational, it will be the country’s first integrated training and demonstration farm covering both conventional and organic Basmati cultivation, benefiting farmers in Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada highlighted Pilibhit’s potential as a key Basmati-producing region and emphasised the need to expand organic cultivation and farmer engagement. He also suggested incorporating an AI-based interactive museum at the centre to provide experiential learning for visitors and students, along with a dedicated outlet for quality Basmati seeds and organic inputs.
In a parallel development, an AI-based Basmati paddy survey project for 2026–2028 was unveiled. The initiative will cover nearly 4 million hectares, collect data from over 1.5 lakh ground-truth points, and engage more than 5 lakh farmers. It aims to enable precise crop assessment, varietal identification, scientific advisory services, and improved export planning.
The upcoming facility has also been designated as a centre under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) for national-level Basmati trials, supporting the testing and evaluation of new varieties suited to regional conditions.
The Ministry said the initiatives are aimed at strengthening the Basmati ecosystem, improving productivity, and supporting India’s agricultural exports.
(DD News)
