Broccoli Farming in India 2026
A cool-season superfood with steady hotel, supermarket and health-conscious urban demand.
Overview
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is a cool-season cole crop grown for its green, nutrient-dense flower heads. Once rare in India, it is now a regular item in supermarkets, hotel kitchens and online grocery apps in metros, valued for its high vitamin C, fibre and antioxidant content. It is grown much like cauliflower and fits well into the winter vegetable cycle across north Indian plains, and almost year round in hill stations and polyhouses near cities. Returns depend heavily on access to premium urban buyers, since mandi prices for broccoli swing widely. Farmers who can grade, pack and supply consistent quality to restaurants, food-service distributors and quality retail chains earn far more than those selling loose in wholesale markets. With a short crop cycle of roughly three months and growing health awareness, broccoli is one of the more accessible entry points into exotic vegetable farming for growers in cool regions.
Climate
Cool-season crop. Best head formation occurs around 16 to 23 degrees Celsius, with cool nights of about 16 to 17 degrees. High heat causes loose, bitter heads and premature flowering, while severe frost can damage curds. In the plains it is a winter (rabi) crop; in hills and near-metro polyhouses it can be grown over a longer window.
Soil
Prefers well-drained, fertile loam to sandy loam rich in organic matter, with pH around 6.0 to 7.0. Add well-rotted farmyard manure or compost before transplanting. Avoid waterlogging, which encourages root and stem rots.
Planting & Spacing
Raise seedlings in a nursery or pro-trays; transplant 4 to 5 week old seedlings. In north Indian plains, sow nursery from September to October for a winter crop. Transplant at about 45 cm between rows and 30 to 45 cm between plants. Roughly 200 to 250 grams of seed are needed per acre.
Varieties
Common types include hybrids such as Green Magic, Green Sprouting and Aishwarya, and public varieties like Palam Samridhi and Punjab Broccoli 1. Choose varieties suited to your temperature window and check local seed availability and recommendations from your state agriculture university.
Care & Management
Needs steady moisture; use drip or careful furrow irrigation and avoid water stress at head formation. Apply balanced fertiliser with adequate nitrogen, plus boron and molybdenum, which broccoli is sensitive to. Mulching conserves moisture and controls weeds. Harvest the central head before flower buds open, and some hybrids give smaller side shoots afterward.
Pests & Diseases
Watch for diamondback moth, cabbage butterfly larvae, aphids and leaf-eating caterpillars. Diseases include downy mildew, black rot and damping off in nursery. Use clean seed, crop rotation away from other cole crops, pheromone traps and need-based recommended sprays; consult local agriculture officers for current advisories.
Yield & Harvest
Most varieties are ready about 60 to 90 days after transplanting, depending on type and weather. Reported yields are commonly around 19 to 24 tonnes per hectare, roughly 7 to 10 tonnes per acre, but vary widely with management; treat these as indicative ranges, not guarantees.
Cost & Profit
Profitability depends mainly on buyer access. Wholesale mandi rates can fall very low in peak season, while retail and supermarket rates in metros often run much higher, with quality produce reported anywhere from around 30 up to 100 rupees or more per kg in cities. Verify current local rates before planning, and target premium buyers to capture better margins.
These are indicative ranges. Actual cost and income vary by region, market and management, so verify locally.
Market & Demand
Main buyers are hotels, restaurants and cloud kitchens, supermarket and hypermarket chains, online grocery platforms, and food-service distributors supplying institutional kitchens. Grading, cold chain and consistent supply matter a lot. Tie-ups with caterers and quality retail in nearby metros usually beat selling loose at the local mandi.
Subsidy & Support
Broccoli is eligible under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for support on vegetable cultivation, drip irrigation and protected cultivation. Polyhouse and drip systems can attract subsidy of about 50 percent of project cost under NHB or NHM, with some states adding top-ups. Apply through your State Horticulture Mission or District Horticulture Officer and confirm current norms.
Where to grow it in India
Frequently asked questions
How long does broccoli take to harvest?
Is broccoli profitable to grow in India?
Which season is best for broccoli in north India?
Can broccoli be grown in a polyhouse near cities?
What yield can I expect from broccoli?
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