Basmati and Organic Farming to Get Export Boost in the Terai with New Training Centre in Pilibhit

A significant initiative has been launched to promote Basmati rice and organic farming in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and to link farmers with export markets. On Wednesday, Union Minister of State Jitin Prasada, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and the district’s in-charge minister Baldev Singh Aulakh laid the foundation stone of the Virangana Avantibai Lodhi Basmati and Organic Training Centre-cum-Demonstration Farm at Tanda Bijeshi in Pilibhit district.

The joint initiative of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF) aims to bring together farmer training, seed multiplication, demonstrations, quality management, organic farming support and export facilitation at the new facility.

Addressing the ceremony held at Government Inter College, Neoria (Pilibhit), Union Minister Jitin Prasada said Pilibhit has significant potential to emerge as a major Basmati-producing region. The establishment of the Basmati and Organic Training Centre will provide farmers with better access to training, quality seeds and organic inputs while creating stronger linkages with export markets. “This centre will connect farmers with global standards for Basmati and organic farming, providing local produce with access to international markets and helping bring about an unprecedented increase in farmers’ incomes,” Prasada added.

Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said the Basmati and Organic Training Centre will open new avenues of progress for farmers in the region. It will strengthen farmers’ access to scientific training and advanced agricultural practices while providing information on quality, processing and packaging. Basmati and organic products from the Terai will reach global markets, opening new avenues for farmers to increase their incomes.

APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev said the centre will provide farmers with access to improved seeds, quality standards, testing facilities, packaging and export processes. Through the demonstration farm, farmers will also gain practical knowledge of advanced Basmati and organic farming practices. He said the initiative reinforces the vision of taking “Basmati from the fields of India to tables across the world”, while ensuring that the benefits of expanding agri-exports reach farmers and communities at the grassroots level.

The 7-acre centre will cost Rs 15 crore

The Uttar Pradesh government has provided 7 acres of land for the centre, which will be established at Tanda Bijeshi in Pilibhit district. The project is expected to cost around Rs 15 crore, with the expenditure to be borne by the Central Government.

The proposed demonstration farm will cover Basmati varieties and technologies related to Basmati production, along with demonstrations on insect and pest management, disease management, organic cultivation, organic inputs, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) practices.

The facility will also support the All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Programme (AICRIP) in national Basmati trials for the evaluation and development of varieties suitable for the region.

Basmati Seed Multiplication Centre

A dedicated Seed Multiplication Centre will facilitate the availability of authentic and quality Basmati seed varieties to farmers and other stakeholders. The facility will undertake breeder seed production and multiplication of major Basmati varieties, including foundation, certified and truthful seed. Source seed will also be made available to Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), seed multipliers and government agencies.

Support for FPOs, entrepreneurs and startups

The facility will also provide capacity-building and handholding support to FPOs, entrepreneurs and startups for the export of their produce. Despite the large number of rice mills in the Terai region, most mills process coarse rice. Therefore, the training centre is expected to strengthen the milling and export infrastructure for Basmati in the region.

Push for organic farming and certification

Organic agriculture will be another major focus of the facility. With support from the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF), farmers will receive training in the production of organic and bio-inputs. The centre will also provide guidance on the registration process for organic certification and related requirements.

The ceremony saw the participation of farmers, exporters, public representatives and other stakeholders, with around 8,000 people attending the programme.

An agricultural exhibition was also organised, showcasing Basmati and organic products and the activities of participating organisations, including APEDA, BEDF, AIREA, NCOL, MoFPI, NABARD, Tea Board, Spices Board, Turmeric Board, DGFT, FIEO and the state government.

Public representatives present at the event included Barkheda MLA Swami Pravaktanand, Puranpur MLA Baburam Paswan, Bisalpur MLA Vivek Verma, MLC Sudhir Gupta and Nagar Palika Chairperson Dr Astha Agrawal, along with senior APEDA and district administration officials.