APEDA Signs 70-Year Lease to Establish Basmati Organic Training Centre in Pilibhit, UP

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed a 70-year lease agreement with the Uttar Pradesh government to establish a Basmati Organic Training Centre-cum-Demo Farm in Pilibhit's Tanda Bijaisi area. Spanning nearly seven acres, the centre will feature facilities such as an auditorium, museum, gallery, conference rooms, laboratory, and storage for organic farming inputs. It aims to support training, capacity building, and research for Basmati and organic farmers, agricultural experts, and students. Union Minister Jitin Prasada highlighted Pilibhit's potential as a major Basmati-producing region and proposed incorporating an AI-based interactive museum and a dedicated outlet for quality seeds and inputs. The centre will be India's first integrated training and demonstration farm for conventional and organic Basmati cultivation.