Vasantdada Sugar Institute doubles AI subsidy for 5,000 cane farmers in Maharashtra
In India, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar announced that the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) will double its subsidy for AI-based sugarcane farming from ₹9,250 to ₹18,250 per hectare for 5,000 farmers in the 2025–26 season. The scheme aims to promote technology adoption and reduce cultivation costs across the state.
Pune: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday announced that the (VSI) had decided to double the subsidy — from Rs9,250 to Rs18,250 per hectare for the 2025–26 crushing season — for 5,000 farmers who have adopted artificial intelligence (AI) in sugar cane cultivation.A key member of the governing council of the Pune-based institute, Pawar said the revised subsidy would be given to the first 5,000 farmers across Maharashtra on a first-come-first-served basis.
Farmers would be eligible irrespective of their membership in cooperative or private sugar mills.He made the statement after a meeting of the VSI governing council, chaired by its president and former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.”If the number exceeds 5,000, we will approach the state govt for support and discuss with the chief minister and agriculture minister whether state policy can be amended to extend benefits to more farmers,” said Pawar.He further said that while the VSI’s subsidy scheme was applicable only for the current year, the govt may consider framing a new policy next year based on demand.Additionally, the VSI has decided to incentivise farmers by reducing the cost of sugar cane setts (saplings). The price per sett will be cut from Rs3 to Rs2, providing a subsidy of Rs1 per sett.
Since one hectare typically requires 12,000 to 12,500 setts, the total cost for farmers will come down to around Rs24,000 to Rs25,000.An official from the institute said the AI-based farming scheme was introduced last year and 847 farmers have already registered for it.Pawar also defended the state govt’s directive requiring sugar mills to contribute Rs10 per hectare to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and an additional Rs5 per hectare for flood-affected farmers.”The govt spends crores of rupees from the CM Relief Fund on medical treatment for the underprivileged. When mills contribute for such purposes, there should be no issue. However, everyone has the right to express their opinion,” he added.Responding to controversy over his party MLA Sangram Jagtap’s remarks urging people to shop only at Hindu establishments during Diwali, Pawar said, “An appropriate decision will be taken after he replies to the notice served to him. It will not be tolerated that a party member and speaks against the party line.”
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Source : The Times Of India
