With over 77% of Maharashtra’s cropped area vulnerable to climate change, farmers in the region are dealing with more erratic weather due to climate change. This includes unpredictable rainfall and floods, severe temperatures, and delayed monsoons. The unpredictable weather makes it challenging for farmers to organize their schedules, manage pests, and apply fertilizers in an efficient and economical way.
In a different approach, the sugarcane farmers in Maharashtra's Baramati region are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to boost crop yields and promote sustainability. They are collaborating with the Agricultural Development Trust (ADT) of Baramati and employing Microsoft's AI technology for daily counsel through a mobile app.
Although there is still room for improvement, the app provides essential insights such as watering schedules, precise fertilizer application, and pest monitoring. Plus, it’s all tailored to specific areas of their fields.
To bridge the digital divide in agriculture, Microsoft’s AI tools, including the Azure Data Manager for Agriculture (FarmBeats) and Project FarmVibes.ai, provide farmers with valuable data on weather, soil, and crop conditions. These insights are delivered through the Agripilot.ai app, which offers daily actions and guidance, including irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, in multiple languages. The mentioned app simplifies technical details and helps farmers optimize crop growth by providing personalized recommendations based on satellite and drone data of their specific land.
A farmer, Suresh Jagtap has reported significant improvements since adopting AI-driven practices. He observed greener leaves, more uniform growth, and an increase in the number of tillers per sapling—from five or six to ten or more. These advancements suggest a potential increase in both crop quantity and quality.
He uses a weather station that tracks wind, rain, solar, temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and nutrients. The data is combined with satellite imagery and historical data to be analyzed for providing daily alerts through the mobile app. It guides actions like irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. The goal is to optimize conditions for peak sucrose content at harvest time.
Sugarcane is a water-based crop, and Maharashtra has faced significant water scarcity due to over-extraction of groundwater and irregular monsoon rainfall in recent times. Inefficient water usage has led to wastage and higher irrigation costs—further increasing the headache of the farmers.
Despite traditional methods, many farmers were facing stagnation in sugarcane yields, leading to lower profitability. The crop cycle, traditionally 18 months, was long and often resulted in reduced quality and output.
Since planting a test plot six months ago, Jagtap and Seema Chavan have seen better growth. The leaves are greener, and the height is more even. The project, called "Farm of the Future," was presented at ADT Baramati's annual farmers' festival, Krushik, in January 2024. It attracted a lot of attention, with 20,000 farmers signing up. In mid-2024, 200 farmers started planting.
The AI-assisted sugarcane plots grew taller and thicker. The stalks weighed 30 to 40 percent more at harvest. The sucrose yield increased by 20 percent. These plots also used less water and fertilizer. The crop cycle was shortened from 18 months to 12 months.
The system uses data from different sources. The sources include weather stations with tools that track wind, rain, sunlight, heat, and dampness. Soil sensors check moisture, pH, and nutrients like potassium and nitrogen. This information is combined with satellite and drone pictures. The AI then examines it and provides farmers with clear advice.
The success of this project has caught the attention of industry leaders. Microsoft Chairman Satya Nadella praised the work during his visit to Baramati. He emphasized how AI can change farming.
Given the increasing issues with pests and plant diseases in Maharashtra, the AI-powered system also helps detect pests and diseases early as well. Data from sensors, drones, and satellites make it possible to spot problems in specific parts of the field. This helps farmers take action quickly.
Farmers are then provided with recommendations for eco-friendly pest management techniques, such as localized pesticide application or organic treatments, reducing the overall pesticide use and minimizing crop damage.
Extending the practicability of the solution, Mahindra & Mahindra has also implemented AI-based harvesting technologies to assess sugar content in sugarcane. It determines the optimal harvest time to maximize yield and sugar recovery. In addition, companies like CultYvate have introduced smart irrigation solutions that allow farmers to control water usage via mobile apps, ensuring efficient water distribution and reducing labor requirements.