Jayant Patil to lead panel on Artificial Intelligence at Vasant dada Sugar Institute
Kolhapur: The Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), a premier research and development organisation in the sugar and allied industry, has set up a committee under NCP (SP) state chief Jayant Patil to scale up use of artificial intelligence in sugar cane farming.
The AI panel of VSI comprises seven members associated with the sugar industry. VSI, led by NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, has 11 members as the board of trustees, including Jayant Patil is a member.
Patil, speaking exclusively to TOI, said, “The way farmers in Baramati used AI will be replicated across Maharashtra’s sugar cane cultivating regions. The VSI will be the mediator for all needs.”
Maharashtra ranks second in India in sugar cane production. Nearly 950 lakh tonne sugar cane is produced every year on roughly 11 lakh hectares. The issue of declining production once in every three years is cause of concern before the industry
The use of AI by sugar cane in Baramati resulted in a 30-40% increase in sugar cane yield and a better sugar recovery rate. “The pilot project showed that expenses on irrigation and fertilisers were significantly saved, around 50%. The AI tech helps optimise the use of water and fertilisers. It also helps farmers avoid losing the fertility of the land. The issue of land turning saline and thereby barren will be completely
avoided,” said Patil.
The other prominent members of the AI panel of VSI are politicians Harshwardhan Patil, Rajesh Tope, Jayprakash Dandegaonkar and Vishwajeet Kadam.
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Source : The Times Of India
