AI in cane cultivation can boost economics: Sharad Pawar
Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief and former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sugarcane cultivation can change the sector's economics and elevate the living standards of farmers.
He was speaking at an event on the theme 'How AI can be used in the field of farming such as sugarcane cultivation, rice and horticulture' in the presence of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, state agriculture minister Manikrao Kokake and cooperation minister Balasaheb Patil.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Vasantdada Sugar Institute and Agricultural Development Trust was signed to explore ways to ensure the technology reaches as many farmers as possible.
Pointing out lacunas in the sector, Pawar said sugar mills are not getting adequate cane, resulting in a crushing season that lasts only for 100 days or even less, which results in underutilisation of factory machinery and negative impact on the financial viability.
'The solution lies in increasing per-acre sugarcane yield and to achieve this, AI can play a major role. Increasing cane yield using AI, and thereby producing more sugar and by-products like ethanol, is the right approach. AI can transform the economics of sugarcane. It can help improve farmers' standard of living and generate good revenue. We must therefore implement this technology on a large scale,' he asserted.
AI will be useful for all crops, but it will be a true 'game-changer' for sugarcane, Pawar added.
The Agricultural Development Trust has initiated a programme with the help of Oxford University, he said.
'Experts from Vasantdada Sugar Institute and Agricultural Development Trust are working together to figure out how to set up weather stations and shelters in fields, how to use them to boost sugarcane yields. They will provide this information by visiting different sugar factories,' Pawar said.
'Every sugar factory has agriculture officers. I have consistently complained that these officers focus only on cane planting dates, harvesting schedules, and transport arrangements. They don't pay attention to how the cane grows, how to improve its quality or recovery rate. I would like to request all cooperative sugar factories to take steps to improve their agriculture departments, If need be, VSI will impart necessary training,' he said.
Talking about the expenses of setting up AI-enabled systems in sugarcane farms, Pawar said the initial cost is ₹25,000 per hectare. 'Of this, ₹9,000 will be paid by the farmer, ₹6,750 by the sugar factory, and ₹9,250 will be contributed by Vasantdada Institute. It is good that the state agriculture department, Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank are now taking more interest in this project,' Pawar said.
To implement AI, drip irrigation is essential, he said urging key drip irrigation system manufacturers to reduce the pricing.
Ajit swaps nameplates to avoid sitting next to Pawar Sr
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Monday swapped the nameplates kept on the dais at an event in Pune to avoid sitting next to uncle and NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, the move coming amid speculation that factions led by the two leaders could be looking at burying the hatchet and reuniting.
The NCP split in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar joined the then Eknath Shinde government. The party name and clock symbol were given to the Ajit faction, while the one headed by the former Union agriculture minister was christened NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
The nameplate swap took place at an event at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in farming.
As per the initial sitting arrangements, the nameplates of the two leaders were next to each other. However, the deputy CM moved the board having his name one chair away to allow state cooperation minister Babasaheb Patil to sit between him and the NCP (SP) chief.
Incidentally, the sequence of events was a rerun of a similar act by Ajit Pawar at VSI itself this January. That time too, he had allowed Patil to sit next to Sharad Pawar.
(With agency inputs)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
33 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Home Minister Amit Shah in Chhattisgarh to review anti-Naxal operations
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit a security camp and chair a meeting to review ongoing anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh during his two-day trip to the state starting from Sunday, said Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma of the BJP-led state government. Shah will also lay foundation stones for a National Forensic Science University (NFSU) and a state forensic lab in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Sunday. The state government has allotted 40 acres of land for NFSU, which will be built by the Centre at a cost of around Rs 400 crore. Later in the evening, he will chair a high-level security review meeting with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, where senior state and top security officials will be in attendance. The meeting will focus on the current internal security scenario in the state, with a special emphasis on anti-Naxal operations. The CM described the upcoming visit of Shah as a 'symbol of renewed energy and confidence for Chhattisgarh', underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts between the Centre and the state to combat extremism and promote inclusive growth. Notably, anti-Naxalite operations have been intensified in Chhattisgarh since the BJP was elected to power in the 2023 Assembly polls and more than 400 Maoist cadres, including senior functionaries, gunned down by security forces in separate encounters since January 2024. Maharashtra's Baramati, the bastion of the Pawar political family, is abuzz about the elections to the Malegaon Cooperative Sugar Mill on Sunday, as reported by Partha Sarathi Biswas. While Ajit has fielded his panel for the 21 posts of the Malegaon Cooperative Sugar Mill, he is himself running for the chairman position. Adding further spice to the contest, after Ajit's entry, Sharad Pawar announced he was putting up own panel too, with the uncle and nephew rivalry now playing out in the mill, located on the family turf of Baramati and long a Pawar fiefdom. Before the NCP split in 2023, Ajit 'managed' the running and politics of almost all cooperative bodies in the region, including the Malegaon mill. In 2019, its outgoing board pledged their support to Ajit in both the general and state Assembly elections; now their loyalties are seen as divided between him and Pawar Senior. The Malegaon mill's functional area is about 37 villages, and the electorate for the June 22 polls are the 20,000 farmer members of the mill, who are also shareholders in the cooperative. Pawar Senior and Ajit are among the members. The mill's VIP status is reinforced by its reputation of compensating its member farmers well. Besides these two panels, the 'Sahakar Bachao Shetkari Panel' led by known Pawar baiter Chandrarao Taware, is in the race, along with a panel of Independents. The Tawares, who have for long been the only ones standing between the Pawars and their total dominance of Baramati, joined the BJP in 2019. Elections will be held on Sunday for more than 3,894 gram panchayats across Gujarat to elect sarpanchs and panchayat members in the first such exercise after the state government announced 27% OBC reservation in local body polls in 2023. Earlier, OBC reservation in local bodies was capped at 10%. Of 8,326 gram panchayats for which elections were declared on May 25, general and mid-term polls will be held for 3,541 gram panchayats. More than a thousand gram panchayats have been declared uncontested or vacant with no candidate filing their nomination, the State Election Commission (SEC) said. The SEC said gram panchayat elections in six talukas under Kadi and Visavadar Assembly seats have been cancelled due to by-elections held there on Thursday. Elections to the lowest level of local government administration are usually not contested on a party basis. Candidates do not fight on party tickets, though they may be affiliated with political parties. – With PTI inputs
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
AI and its future: beyond the data-driven era
Artificial intelligence is the science of making machines do things that would require intelligence if done by humans — John McCarthy, who coined the term 'artificial intelligence' and is considered father of AI, said in 1955 Artificial Intelligence is the buzzword that's resonating across boardrooms, classrooms, and coffee shops these days. It is everywhere. From chatbots handling customer service to algorithms curating social media feeds, AI has become the in-thing of our time. Yet despite the widespread adoption and breathless headlines, we're still in the earliest stages of what AI can become. The current reality: data-driven intelligence Today's AI systems, impressive as they may seem, operate on a fundamental principle: processing vast amounts of data to recognize patterns and generate responses. These Large Language Models (LLMs) can write poetry, code software, and answer complex questions, but they're essentially sophisticated pattern-matching engines drawing from enormous datasets. Frankly speaking, what we're experiencing now is just the tip of the iceberg and we're still in the fetal stage of artificial intelligence evolution. However, the current data-driven approach has undeniably been disruptive. Industries from healthcare to finance have scrambled to integrate AI tools, leading to the ubiquitous presence of 'AI-powered' solutions. However, calling these systems true artificial intelligence may be premature - they lack the fundamental cognitive abilities that define genuine intelligence. The next frontier: Artificial General Intelligence The next phase in AI evolution promises something far more sophisticated: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Unlike current systems that excel in narrow domains, AGI will possess the ability to understand, learn, and apply intelligence across a broad range of tasks - much like human cognitive flexibility. The key differentiator lies in cognition. Where today's AI relies on statistical analysis of training data, AGI systems will develop the capacity for genuine reasoning and decision-making. This cognitive leap represents a fundamental shift from pattern recognition to actual thinking. AGI won't just process information faster or access more data - it will understand context, make inferences, and adapt to entirely new situations without requiring additional training. This represents a qualitative, not just quantitative, advancement in machine intelligence. The ultimate goal: Absolute Intelligence Beyond AGI lies an even more ambitious target: Absolute Intelligence. This final phase envisions AI systems with fully developed cognitive abilities - machines that can think, reason, and make decisions with the same depth and nuance as human consciousness, potentially surpassing human intellectual capabilities. Absolute Intelligence would mark the point where artificial systems achieve genuine understanding rather than sophisticated mimicry. These systems would possess creativity, intuition, and the ability to grapple with abstract concepts in ways that current AI cannot. Small Language Models: The Future Architecture Contrary to the current trend towards ever-larger models, the future may belong to Small Language Models (SLMs). These more efficient, specialized systems could prove more practical and powerful than their data-hungry predecessors. Small Language Models offer several advantages over massive LLMs: reduced computational requirements, faster processing, greater customization for specific tasks, and the ability to run locally rather than requiring cloud infrastructure. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, these characteristics will prove increasingly valuable. The shift toward SLMs reflects a maturation of the field - moving from brute-force approaches that require enormous resources toward elegant, efficient solutions that deliver superior performance with less overhead. The Way Forward Rather than dwelling on dystopian scenarios, the AI revolution presents an opportunity to thoughtfully shape the next decade of technological development. The progression from today's data-driven systems through AGI to Absolute Intelligence won't happen overnight. However, the key lies in recognizing that we're not approaching an endpoint but rather embarking on a carefully planned journey. Each phase of AI development builds upon the previous one, creating opportunities to refine our approach, establish ethical frameworks, and ensure that artificial intelligence helps humans. As we stand at this inflection point, the question isn't whether AI will transform our world - it's how we'll guide that transformation. The next ten years will determine whether we harness these emerging capabilities to solve pressing global challenges, enhance human potential, and create a more prosperous future for all. The age of true artificial intelligence is still ahead of us. What we're witnessing today is merely the opening chapter of a much larger story - one that we have the power to write thoughtfully and purposefully. All said and done, the world needs a responsible AI that can enhance our quality of life in all spheres and spaces. That's the bottom line. (Krishna Kumar is a technology explorer & strategist based in Austin, Texas in the US. Rakshitha Reddy is AI developer based in Atlanta, US)
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
They are here: The rise and rise of AI robots
You can spot them blinking away, triggering awe and curiosity. They enable check-ins at some airline counters at airports, roll across hotel reception areas offering welcome drinks, serve orders at restaurants. They are manning duties in warehouses, factories and logistics hubs. They are deployed at bars, aid doctors in surgery and first responders to triage. They are not yet ubiquitous, but there is no doubt that robots are here. The buzz is visible in headlines streaming live. Masayoshi Son is making a $1.3-trillion bet under Project Crystal Land alongside TSMC for building robots and AI hubs. Tesla is all set, finally, to unveil its Robotaxi in Austin, Texas. Nvidia and Foxconn are in talks to deploy humanoid robots at the Houston AI server plant. Amazon deploys AI-enabled robot Vulcan at its warehouses and plans to deploy delivery robots as part of a plan to automate $200 billion in logistics costs. A Chinese outfit has unveiled the first robotic hand combining tactile perception with complete motion capabilities. Hexagon launched Aeon, a humanoid designed for industry for autonomy, automated measurement systems and perception—and what's more, it can produce digital twins. Indian entities, too, are chasing productivity to expand the use of robotics for an array of businesses. Reliance-backed Addverb is launching humanoid robots to eliminate '3D jobs', ones that are dull, dirty and dangerous. Bengaluru-based Invento is developing Mitra robots for retail, hospitality and senior care. Kochi-based Asimov Robotics develops robots for high-risk settings. Hyderabad-based Svaya Robotics specialises in industrial robots for collaborative tasks in manufacturing and logistics. Bengaluru start-up Genobotics is the developer of Bandicoot robot which automates sewer cleaning. Kody from Ahmedabad is developing robots for surveillance, office services and industry. The term robot owes its etymology to the Czech word robota, which means forced labour, and was introduced in Czech author Karel Capek's 1921 science fiction play Rossum's Universal Robots. Robots made their cinematic debut in 1927 in Metropolis, a movie about a polarised society in a divided futuristic city. Popular passions, though, surfaced with the 2007 blockbuster Transformers about alien robots produced by toymakers Hasbro and Takara Tomy and Schwarzenegger starrer Terminator. A century after Capek's coinage, a combination of factors has spurred the creeping robot evolution to a tipping point. The blend of knowledge and technology has propelled investments.
