ChiniMandi -August 6, 2026
https://www.chinimandi.com/maharashtras-ai-policy-gives-boost-to-sugarcane-farming-with-technology-led-solutions/
Kolhapur: Maharashtra’s MahAgri-AI policy is expected to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and precision agriculture in sugarcane cultivation, helping farmers improve productivity, reduce input costs and make farming more sustainable.
The state government has introduced a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to promote the use of technology across sectors, with agriculture identified as a key focus area. The policy encourages the use of AI for weather forecasting, crop management, pest and disease detection, yield estimation and improving farmers’ income.
Agriculture experts said technology-driven solutions are becoming increasingly important in the state’s sugarcane-growing regions, where cropping patterns and climatic conditions vary significantly across districts.
In Kolhapur district, sugarcane, soybean, vegetables and fodder crops dominate the central region, including Karveer, Kagal and Gadhinglaj, while irrigated sugarcane, maize, vegetables and dairy farming are prominent in the eastern talukas of Shirol and Hatkanangale. Experts said these varying conditions require location-specific farming practices supported by digital technologies.
They believe the future of agriculture lies in integrating artificial intelligence with scientific crop management, including integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management and regenerative farming practices to improve soil health while maintaining productivity.
AI-based applications are already enabling farmers to identify crop diseases and pests by analysing photographs captured on mobile phones. The technology is also being used for weather forecasting, irrigation scheduling, fertiliser recommendations, crop yield estimation and market price analysis.
Experts said the adoption of drones for pesticide spraying, satellite-based crop monitoring, soil moisture sensors, GPS-enabled farm machinery, automated drip irrigation and fertigation systems can significantly improve resource-use efficiency while reducing production costs.
In sugarcane cultivation, precision farming technologies such as drones, sensors and automated irrigation systems have the potential to reduce water and fertiliser use by 20-40%, according to agriculture experts.
They added that while farmers are gradually adopting modern technologies, combining these innovations with crop diversification and sustainable farming practices will be essential for improving long-term farm profitability and resilience.