NewKerala.com

India's First Integrated Basmati & Organic Training Farm to Come Up in Pilibhit

India's first integrated Basmati and organic training-cum-demo farm will be established in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, following a 70-year lease agreement signed by APEDA. The centre will feature an auditorium, museum, laboratory, and storage facilities, serving as a hub for farmer training and research. Union Minister Jitin Prasada highlighted the potential of Pilibhit as a key Basmati region and announced an AI-based interactive museum at the centre. Additionally, an AI-based Basmati Paddy Survey project for 2026-2028 was unveiled to support crop assessment and export planning.

Key Points: India's First Basmati & Organic Demo Farm in Pilibhit

  • 70-year lease signed for Basmati & Organic Training Centre in Pilibhit
  • Facility includes auditorium, museum, lab, and storage
  • First integrated demo farm for conventional and organic Basmati
  • AI-based Basmati Paddy Survey project unveiled for 2026-2028
  • Centre designated as AICRP for national Basmati trials
2 min read

Pilibhit in UP to get India's first integrated Basmati, organic training-cum-demo farm

India's first integrated Basmati and organic training-cum-demo farm will be set up in Pilibhit, UP, to boost farmer training, research, and exports.

"Incorporating an AI-based interactive museum at the centre to provide information and experiential learning for visitors and students - Jitin Prasada"

New Delhi, April 30

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 for setting up a Basmati & Organic Training Centre-cum-Demo Farm in Pilibhit, aimed at strengthening India's Basmati rice ecosystem, according to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.The proposed centre, to be developed over nearly seven acres at Tanda Bijaisi in Pilibhit, will include facilities such as an auditorium, museum, gallery on Basmati and organic farming, conference room, laboratory, and storage space for organic inputs. It will serve as a hub for farmer training, capacity building, and research support for agricultural experts and students. Once operational, the facility 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. Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, highlighted the potential of Pilibhit as a key Basmati-producing region and emphasised the need to expand organic cultivation and farmer engagement.

Prasada noted "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."

The proposed centre will include an auditorium, museum and gallery on Basmati and organic farming, conference facilities, laboratory and storage space for organic inputs. It is expected to support training and capacity building for farmers, while also serving as a resource hub for agricultural experts and students.

Once operational, the facility will be the country's first dedicated Basmati organic training and demonstration farm covering both conventional and organic cultivation. Its location is expected to benefit farmers and stakeholders in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

In a parallel development, an AI-based Basmati Paddy Survey project for 2026-2028 was unveiled. "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," the ministry noted.

The upcoming centre has also been designated as an All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) centre for national-level Basmati trials, which will support testing and evaluation of new varieties suited to regional conditions.

The ministry noted that initiatives are aimed at strengthening the Basmati ecosystem, improving productivity and supporting India's agricultural exports.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

V
Vikram M
Sounds promising but let's see how it actually works on the ground. Our govt loves announcing these demo farms but farmers often end up getting less support than promised. Hope the AI survey actually helps identify which varieties grow best organically.
P
Priya S
This is fantastic for UP and Uttarakhand! Organic basmati has huge demand in Europe and Middle East. If they can actually train farmers properly and set up a good seed bank, it'll boost our exports massively. Kudos to the Ministry 🙏
J
James A
Impressive that they're including an AI-based interactive museum and survey. India is really pushing modern agriculture. As someone who exports Indian basmati to the US, consistency in organic quality would be a game-changer.
R
Rohit P
My family farms in Bareilly, not far from Pilibhit. Basmati is our pride but organic certification is expensive and confusing for small farmers. A training centre with labs and storage — that's what we need. Also, the AI survey covering 4 million hectares sounds ambitious. Hope it's not just a paper project.
S
Sarah B
Very strategic move — Pilibhit has the right terroir for premium basmati. The AICRP designation means research-backed farming, which is crucial for organic. If they partner with local universities and actually involve women farmers too, this could be a model for other states.
A
<

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50