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

The Central Government will support the establishment of a Center of Excellence dedicated to broccoli to promote its cultivation, propagation, infrastructure development, and specialised cold storage facilities. This initiative aims to popularise broccoli, which has emerged as a natural superfood rich in essential nutrients.

The announcement was made by Dr P.K. Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India, during the Broccoli Consumption Conference India 2026. The conference, held at Hotel JW Marriott Juhu in Mumbai and organised by Sakata Seed India, brought together stakeholders from across the broccoli value chain.

The event was inaugurated by key dignitaries, including Dr P.K. Singh, Consulate General of Japan in Mumbai Mr Yagi Koji, Deputy Commissioner Dr Mehraj A.S., Managing Director of Sakata Seed India Mr Kenji Takikawa, Executive Officer Mr. Isao Iuchi, and Mr Javier Barnabu (widely regarded as the father of the broccoli revolution in Spain).

In his welcome address, Mr Ramesh Shirguppi, Director, Sakata Seed India, described the conference as the first of its kind in the vegetable sector. Themed "Health and Happiness for Everyone", it aimed to create a sustainable broccoli ecosystem by uniting farmers, cultivators, harvesters, marketers, consumers, and kitchen experts. He emphasised the launch of an awareness campaign under the Swasth Bharat Abhiyan, with slogans such as "Empowering a healthier and self-resilient India" and "A treasure of health and happiness – eat broccoli every day." Mr Shirguppi also highlighted that per capita consumption of broccoli in India is increasing day by day, reflecting growing awareness of its nutritional benefits.

Mr Kenji Takikawa, Managing Director, Sakata Seed India, highlighted the company's 17-year journey in India since 2008 and stressed the importance of connecting all stakeholders in the broccoli chain—from cultivation to processing and consumption—to build a sustainable ecosystem. He added, “The Government of Japan is actively promoting broccoli by including it in the country’s ‘designated vegetables’ list from fiscal year 2026.”

Dr P.K. Singh noted that this was the first-ever broccoli-focused conference in India's vegetable sector, with significant potential in food security, public health, and farmer empowerment through cluster development. He assured full government support for cultivation, cold storage, and processing, including the establishment of a Center of Excellence to provide technical education, quality production guidance, and market linkages for farmers.

"Farmers know how to grow quality produce, but they need reliable markets," Dr Singh said. He added that existing potato cold storage facilities could be customised for broccoli, and support would extend to organic cultivation. Assistance from the Japanese government may also be sought for this initiative.

Mr Yagi Koji, Consulate General of Japan, shared that while broccoli is not native to Japan, government and collective efforts have helped spread it to 170 countries worldwide. Japan has developed climate-suited seeds for India, positioning broccoli as a key component for the nation's nutrition and overall development.

The conference featured a motivational speech by legendary cricketer Mr Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who shared how he incorporates broccoli into his diet (including broccoli soup four times a week) and emphasised the mantra "Health is Wealth."

Other highlights included:
A presentation on global broccoli promotion and opportunities by Mr Shinaya Kimura.
A panel discussion on broccoli's role in food and health, featuring experts such as Dr Nazneen Hussain, Dr Rajashree Taishete, Dr Shalini Arya, Mr Sachin Walunj, Mr Maruti Chapke, and Mr Vivek Nayak. Topics covered health benefits, recipes, frozen products for value addition, and public-private partnerships for research.
Insights from Mr Javier Barnabu on Spain's successful broccoli promotion through supermarkets, schools, and the formation of a Broccoli Association involving growers, seed companies, retailers, processors, exporters, government institutions, and influencers.
Contributions from international lifestyle coach Ms Claudia Ciesla on broccoli's role in combating malnutrition and chronic diseases.

The second session focused on building a sustainable value chain, with discussions on precooling facilities, cold van transportation, and customised cold storage. Mr Avinash Joshi from Reliance Retail highlighted the need for small-scale awareness activities at retail outlets to boost demand.

A highlight of the event was a broccoli recipe cooking competition for homemakers, guided by celebrity chef Mr Sanjeev Kapoor, who shared his personal fondness for broccoli and its versatility in Indian cuisine. Participants prepared exclusively broccoli-based Indian dishes and were honoured with certificates, with top entries receiving awards.
Sakata Seed Corporation and Sakata Seed India expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, delegates, and participants for making the event a grand success and a historical milestone in the vegetable industry. The conference successfully showcased broccoli's potential as a superfood and reinforced commitments toward a healthier India.