Maharashtra: AI-Based Sugarcane Farming Increases Yield By 40%; Lowers Input Cost And Water Use By About 30%
In Pune, Maharashtra, AI has been successfully integrated into sugarcane farming, marking a pioneering experiment in India. Conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Baramati, with Microsoft and Oxford University, the method boosts yields while reducing costs. The technology helps farmers save water, fertilizers, and pesticides, while increasing income by up to 40%. AI’s use could revolutionize farming with higher productivity and sustainability.
Pune: The western Maharashtra, particularly the regions of Pune, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur, is known as the sugarcane belt. In the first such experiment in the country, sugarcane cultivation was done through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The experiment was carried out by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Baramati, through the Agricultural Development Trust with the help of Microsoft and Oxford University. The method is less costly, and the quantity of sugarcane cultivated is greater. The experiment was held during ‘Krushak 2025’, an agricultural exhibition, and a lot of farmers attended it to see the benefits of AI at Baramati in the Pune district.
“A lot of people cultivate sugarcane in a traditional way, but if one uses AI, it is beneficial. The experiment was conducted in farms of 1000 farmers, and the results were positive,” said Dr Bhushan Gosavi, Director, Agriculte Science.
“Their income can rise up to 40 percent, and the production cost will be 20 to 40 percent less. It will also save around 30 per cent water,” Dr Gosavi added.
Dr Gosavi termed it as the new revolution in sugarcane farming. “The initial experiment was conducted three years ago through the Farm of the Fortune initiative. We started research to see how water and production costs, the use of fertilisers can be saved, and how farmers can earn more income,” he added.
In March 2024, we started experimenting on the farms and have successfully conducted 1000 such experiments. “The AI will also help farmers to acquire knowledge about the king of mud, land, climate change, temperatures, which fertilisers are needed. The sensors placed in the fields help to understand the wetness of the land, temperature and what is needed for it. It is monitored through a satellite, and regular alerts are given to farmers. We have seen the income of farmers rise by 40 per cent,” claimed Dr Bhushan Gosavi.
He added, “If AI is used in sugarcane farming, it will increase soil fertility. Through organic carbon assessment, farmers will get the benefit of carbon credit in the future and will see an improvement in harvesting efficiency by up to 35 per cent and a 25 percent reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and 25 percent savings in the use of pesticides due to continuous crop monitoring, we will see many benefits,” he added.
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Source : ETV Bharat
