A 70-year lease has been finalized to transfer land for a Basmati and Organic Training Centre-cum-Demo Farm at Tanda Bijaisi in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. The center, to be developed over approximately seven acres, will feature facilities such as an auditorium, museum, gallery on Basmati and organic farming, conference room, laboratory, and storage space for organic farming inputs, as per an official statement.
This facility is set to provide training and capacity building for Basmati and organic farmers, serving as a resource center for agricultural experts and students. It will be the first Basmati organic training and demonstration farm in the country, covering both conventional and organic Basmati cultivation, benefiting farmers and stakeholders in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to its strategic location.
Designated as an All India Coordinated Research Projects center for national-level Basmati trials, the center in Pilibhit becomes the third AICRP center in Uttar Pradesh’s Basmati GI zone. This move will enable systematic testing and evaluation of new Basmati varieties suitable for the region’s agro-climatic conditions.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, unveiled India’s first AI-based Basmati Paddy Survey project (2026–2028), to be carried out by APEDA in partnership with the All-India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA). The project, covering nearly 4 million hectares and engaging with over 5 lakh farmers, aims to enhance precise crop assessment, varietal identification, scientific advisory services, and improved export planning, according to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
Basmati exports, a Geographical Indication (GI) product of India, reached a value of $5.67 billion in 2025–26, with volumes around 6.5 million metric tonnes. This sector remains a significant contributor to India’s agricultural exports, with a strong presence in markets across the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
