Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Jitin Prasada, presided over the foundation stone laying ceremony for the BEDF Basmati and Organic Training Centre cum Demonstration Farm at Tanda Bijeshi, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh on September 9, 2026. The centre is a joint project of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF).
The facility is designed to provide practical demonstrations and technical support to farmers and stakeholders, covering notified Basmati varieties and production technologies. It will demonstrate insect-pest and disease management, organic cultivation practices, organic inputs, Integrated Pest Management, and Integrated Nutrient Management practices. The centre will support the All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Programme (AICRIP) through national Basmati trials for variety evaluation and development suitable for the region.
A dedicated Seed Multiplication Centre will facilitate availability of authentic quality Basmati seeds, including breeder seed production and multiplication of major Basmati varieties (foundation seed, certified seed, and truthful seed). It will provide source seed for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), seed multipliers, and government agencies, while also undertaking maintenance breeding work for purification of Basmati varieties.
The centre will provide practical training in seed production to farmers and youth to create employment opportunities, along with capacity building and export handholding support for FPOs, entrepreneurs, and startups. Online and on-call technical support will be available for field-related issues, and technical assistance will be provided to state government extension workers. Training on production of organic and bio-inputs will be conducted with support from the National Centre for Organic & Natural Farming (NCONF), including registration process for organic certification and related requirements.
Uttar Pradesh holds significant importance in India's Basmati and organic agriculture ecosystem, being a prominent Basmati-producing state and key contributor to Basmati exports. The state ranks seventh in organic production and eighth in area under organic cultivation nationally. The event attracted approximately 8,000 participants including farmers, exporters, and stakeholders, and featured an exhibition with 23 stalls showcasing Basmati and organic products from participating organizations including APEDA, BEDF, AIREA, NCOL, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, NABARD, Tea Board, Spices Board, Turmeric Board, DGFT, FIEO, and the District Agriculture Department.