Kolhapur: The Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), a leading research body in the sugar industry, has formed a special committee to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sugarcane farming across Maharashtra. The seven-member panel is headed by Jayant Patil, the state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction).
The committee aims to build on the success of AI technology used in Baramati, where farmers reported a 30-40% increase in sugarcane yield and improved sugar recovery rates. According to Patil, the initiative saved nearly 50% in irrigation and fertilizer costs while helping maintain the land’s fertility. “We saw great results in Baramati. Now, this approach will be extended to sugarcane-growing areas across the state, with VSI acting as the main coordinator,” he said.
Maharashtra is the second-largest sugarcane-producing state in India, with nearly 950 lakh tonnes grown annually on about 11 lakh hectares. However, the industry faces a recurring challenge of reduced output every three years, making the adoption of smarter farming methods critical.
The VSI, under the leadership of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, has an 11-member board of trustees that includes Jayant Patil. The newly formed AI panel also features other well-known political figures linked to the sugar industry, including Harshwardhan Patil, Rajesh Tope, Jayprakash Dandegaonkar, and Vishwajeet Kadam.
The committee will now work on creating a roadmap to expand AI-based farming practices throughout the state, aiming to boost yields, lower costs, and make sugarcane cultivation more sustainable in the long run.
