Revolutionizing Basmati: New Training Hub in Pilibhit

APEDA partners with the Uttar Pradesh government to establish a state-of-the-art Basmati & Organic Training Centre in Pilibhit. This initiative aims to bolster the Basmati rice ecosystem, offering comprehensive training and research facilities. The centre will enhance farmer engagement, support organic cultivation, and pioneer AI-driven agricultural advancements.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has entered a 70-year lease with the Department of Agriculture and the Government of Uttar Pradesh. This collaboration will establish a Basmati & Organic Training Centre-cum-Demo Farm in Pilibhit, significantly boosting India's Basmati rice ecosystem, as per the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Scheduled to span around seven acres at Tanda Bijaisi in Pilibhit, the centre will house an auditorium, museum, Basmati and organic farming gallery, conference room, laboratory, and organic input storage. Aimed at empowering farmers, it will offer training, enhance capacity building, and provide research support for agricultural students and experts.

In a related initiative, an AI-based Basmati Paddy Survey for 2026-2028 is set to commence. This project will survey approximately 4 million hectares, engaging over 500,000 farmers. With this, the centre also becomes part of the All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP), focusing on national-level Basmati trials and varietal evaluation.