The transfer of 7 acres of land to the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) at the government agriculture farm in Tanda Bijesi village has cleared the way for a basmati and organic training centre and demonstration farm in Pilibhit district.
Project Overview
The project, estimated at around Rs 15 crore, aims to train farmers in premium basmati cultivation, seed production, exports, and organic farming. Construction will be carried out by the Public Works Department and is expected to be completed within a year.
Key Features
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, who is also the BJP MP from Pilibhit, said the project was initiated in June last year but was awaiting land transfer to begin work. A key feature will be an AI-based satellite survey of basmati crops to map cultivation area, identify varieties, and generate data for export estimates.
At a land transfer event on Tuesday, Prasada said the Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF) centre, the second in Uttar Pradesh after Meerut, will cater to farmers from neighbouring states, including Uttarakhand and Delhi.
Facilities and Impact
APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev said the facility will include a seed unit, an auditorium, a museum showcasing 45 notified basmati varieties, and a NABL-accredited lab to test for DNA, pesticide residues, and heavy metals.
BEDF Joint Director Dr Ritesh Sharma stated that the foundation aims to train over 50,000 farmers by the end of 2025–26 across seven basmati-producing states.
