Government to Establish ‘Center of Excellence’ for Broccoli: Agriculture Commissioner Dr P.K. Singh

Mumbai: The Central Government will support the establishment of a ‘Center of Excellence’ for broccoli to promote its cultivation, propagation, infrastructure development and specialised cold storage facilities, Agriculture Commissioner Dr P.K. Singh announced on Friday.

The initiative aims to popularise broccoli as a natural superfood rich in essential nutrients while strengthening the value chain from farm to market.

Dr Singh made the announcement while inaugurating the Broccoli Consumption Conference India 2026 at JW Marriott, Juhu. The conference was organised by Sakata Seed India and brought together stakeholders from farming, seed development, processing, retail and nutrition sectors.

The event was attended by several dignitaries including Japan’s Consul General in Mumbai Yagi Koji, Deputy Commissioner Dr Mehraj A.S., Sakata Seed India Managing Director Kenji Takikawa, Executive Officer Isao Iuchi, and Javier Barnabu, widely regarded as the father of Spain’s broccoli revolution.

First-ever broccoli conference in India

Welcoming the guests, Ramesh Shirguppi, Director, Sakata Seed India, described the conference as the first of its kind in India’s vegetable sector. He said the theme “Health and Happiness for Everyone” reflects the company’s vision of building a sustainable broccoli ecosystem.

“This conference connects everyone – farmers, harvesters, marketers, consumers and kitchen experts – on a single platform. Under the Swasth Bharat Abhiyan, we will run awareness campaigns promoting daily broccoli consumption,” Shirguppi said.

He added that per capita broccoli consumption in India is rising, indicating growing health awareness among consumers.

Government support assured

Addressing the gathering, Dr Singh said the conference would play a significant role in food security, public health and farmer empowerment through cluster-based development.

“Farmers already know how to grow crops. What they need is a reliable market,” he said. “We will support cultivation, cold storage, processing and market linkages. A dedicated Center of Excellence will provide technical guidance and training to farmers.”

He added that existing potato cold storage facilities can be customised for broccoli and that government support will also extend to organic broccoli cultivation. Assistance from the Japanese government may be sought for technical collaboration.

Japan’s role highlighted

Japan’s Consul General Yagi Koji said broccoli, though not native to Japan, has been promoted worldwide through sustained government efforts.

“Japan has helped broccoli reach 170 countries. For India, we have developed climate-suitable seed varieties. Broccoli can become an important nutritional crop for India,” he said.

Industry perspective

Sakata Seed India Managing Director Kenji Takikawa highlighted the company’s 17-year journey in India since 2008 and stressed the importance of linking all stakeholders – from farmers to consumers – for building a sustainable ecosystem.

He also revealed that the Government of Japan has included broccoli in its ‘designated vegetables’ list from 2026, underscoring its global importance.

Srikkanth promotes healthy lifestyle

Former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth delivered a motivational address, sharing how broccoli has become part of his regular diet.

“My wife makes me drink broccoli soup four times a week. Health is wealth. Natural food like broccoli is essential for a long and happy life,” he said.

Expert discussions

The conference featured:

• A global market presentation by Shinaya Kimura

• A panel discussion on ‘Broccoli, Food and Health’ with experts Dr Nazneen Hussain, Dr Rajashree Taishete, Dr Shalini Arya, Sachin Walunj, Maruti Chapke and Vivek Nayak

• Insights from Javier Barnabu on Spain’s broccoli success story through school campaigns, supermarkets and grower associations

• A talk by international nutritionist Claudia Ciesla on broccoli’s role in combating malnutrition and lifestyle diseases

Discussions focused on frozen broccoli products, value addition, public-private partnerships and research collaborations with food scientists.

Value chain development

The second session focused on building a sustainable value chain, including Pre-cooling infrastructure, Cold van transportation and Customised cold storage facilities

Avinash Joshi of Reliance Retail stressed the need for in-store awareness campaigns to boost consumer demand.

Cooking competition

A special attraction was a broccoli-based cooking competition for homemakers, guided by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor. Participants prepared Indian dishes using broccoli, showcasing its adaptability to Indian cuisine.

Kapoor said broccoli has been his favourite vegetable and recalled cooking it during his first TV show.

Winners were awarded certificates and prizes.

Grand success

Sakata Seed Corporation and Sakata Seed India thanked all dignitaries and participants for making the event a historic milestone for India’s vegetable industry.

The conference successfully reinforced broccoli’s potential as a superfood and the government’s commitment towards building a healthier India.