Gangamai Sugar Mill in collaboration with Mahindra & Mahindra has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first private sugar mill in Maharashtra to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and remote sensing technology for sugarcane harvesting planning. This groundbreaking initiative has been implemented, leveraging their expertise in advanced agricultural technologies.
The partnership sets a benchmark for sustainable farming practices in India’s sugar industry while empowering farmers with innovative tools for better productivity and profitability. Mahindra & Mahindra played a pivotal role in implementing this project by providing cutting-edge satellite imaging and AI tools for sugarcane monitoring and analysis. The team of experts collaborated closely with Gangamai’s to ensure the project’s success.
The advanced technology uses multispectral satellite data to assess the vegetation index of sugarcane crops while factoring in weather conditions. An AI model processes this data to predict sugar recovery rates with 95% accuracy, validated weekly in Gangamai’s laboratory. This precise planning has resulted in a significant increase in sugar recovery and reduced operational costs. Additionally, on a trial basis, 1,500 farmers’ fields were monitored for pest infestations and water stress using satellite technology. This initiative provided early warnings, enabling farmers to take timely actions to improve yields.
Key Achievements for the 2024-25 Season
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AI-Driven Harvest Planning: A first-of-its-kind initiative in Maharashtra’s private sugar sector.
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Total Crushing: 8,80,975 metric tons of sugarcane processed with over 10% sugar recovery rate.
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Improved Sugar Recovery: Significant increase compared to last year’s performance.
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Satellite-Based Monitoring: Early alerts for pests and diseases provided to farmers for better crop management.
Beyond technological advancements, Gangamai Industries has conducted farmer awareness programs aimed at improving sugar recovery rates and ensuring better Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) payments for farmers.
With a goal of revolutionizing sugarcane harvesting, Mahindra has worked with various sugarcane mills for more than 4 years and is the first company to use AI-based harvesting in India. Mahindra uses sophisticated precision farming methods in conjunction with spectrometry and satellite imaging to precisely determine the amount of sugar present in the sugarcane crop. The AI algorithms analyses photosynthetic components of crop leaves to identify and determine maturity stages and calculate when harvesting is best for maximum sugar yield and ultimately farmer revenues.
