In a major step toward strengthening India’s Basmati rice ecosystem, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, has signed a 70-year lease agreement to set up a Basmati & Organic Training Centre-cum-Demo Farm in Pilibhit.
The proposed facility, to be developed over approximately seven acres at Tanda Bijaisi, will include modern infrastructure such as an auditorium, museum and gallery on Basmati and organic farming, conference rooms, laboratories, and storage units for organic inputs. The centre aims to serve as a hub for farmer training, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination for agricultural experts and students.
Once operational, the centre will become India’s first integrated training and demonstration farm dedicated to both conventional and organic Basmati cultivation. Its strategic location is expected to benefit farmers across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, praised the initiative and highlighted Pilibhit’s potential as a key Basmati-producing region. He emphasized expanding organic farming and increasing farmer participation. He also proposed the inclusion of an AI-based interactive museum and a dedicated outlet for high-quality Basmati seeds and organic inputs.
On the same occasion, Mr. Prasada unveiled India’s first AI-based Basmati Paddy Survey project (2026–2028), which will be implemented by APEDA in collaboration with the All India Rice Exporters Association. The project will cover nearly 4 million hectares, gather data from over 150,000 ground-truth points, and engage more than 500,000 farmers. It aims to enable precise crop assessment, varietal identification, scientific advisory services, and improved export planning.
Additionally, the upcoming centre has been designated as an All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) centre for national-level Basmati trials. With this designation, Pilibhit will become the third AICRP centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Basmati GI zone, after Nagina (Bijnor) and BEDF Modipuram. This will support systematic evaluation of new Basmati varieties suited to regional agro-climatic conditions.
Basmati rice, a Geographical Indication (GI) product of India, recorded exports worth USD 5.67 billion in 2025–26, with volumes reaching approximately 6.5 million metric tonnes. The sector continues to play a significant role in India’s agricultural exports, with strong demand across the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
APEDA continues to promote organic farming through training, certification support, and market linkage initiatives, aligning with growing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices.