The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has inaugurated a new training and demonstration facility for basmati rice and organic farming in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister of State Jitin Prasada laid the foundation stone for the centre, which is being set up jointly by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF). The facility will serve farmers, farmer producer organisations and exporters across the region.
What the centre will offer
The BEDF Basmati and Organic Training Centre cum Demonstration Farm at Tanda Bijeshi will operate as both a learning hub and a working farm. It will showcase approved basmati varieties alongside methods for managing insects, pests and diseases. Farmers will receive instruction in organic farming techniques, natural inputs, integrated pest management and integrated nutrient management.
A dedicated seed multiplication centre will be part of the facility. This will produce and supply authentic basmati seeds to farmers, seed multipliers, farmer producer organisations and government agencies. The centre will also train farmers and young people in seed production to create employment in rural areas.
The facility will support India’s national rice improvement programme by conducting basmati trials to develop varieties suited to the region. Online and on-call technical assistance will be available to farmers facing field problems. Training will be offered on organic certification requirements and producing organic and bio-inputs, conducted with support from the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming.
Farmer producer organisations, entrepreneurs and startups will receive capacity building and export support to help them reach international markets with their produce.
What this means for you
If you farm basmati or organic crops in the Pilibhit region, the centre offers free training in modern cultivation methods and access to quality seeds without travelling far. Farmer producer organisations can use the facility to learn export procedures and quality standards needed for selling to foreign buyers. Those interested in starting seed production or organic farming as a business will find practical training and expert guidance available at a single location.