Pioneering the implementation of sugar-content based harvesting for India’s sugar industry, Mahindra & Mahindra offered an AI-enabled sugarcane harvesting program to Sahakar Maharshi Shankarao Kolhe SSK Ltd. (formerly Sanjeevani Sugars) in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
Deployed during the 2024 harvesting season for the entire registered sugarcane area under Sahakar Maharshi Shankarao Kolhe, the AI-based technology enables accurate assessment of sugar content, for timely harvesting of the sugarcane crop.
Mr. Hemant Sikka, President of Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector: “Artificial Intelligence applications can be extremely beneficial for agriculture offering several advantages. One such application is our sugarcane analytics tool for the sugar industry, one of the most institutionalized sectors in agriculture. Deployment of AI on farmlands under sugarcane cultivation enables generation of valuable insights for vast tracts of land to boost outcomes, such as assessing the right time to harvest sugarcane, for maximum yield and sugar recovery. Through technology Mahindra aims to transform the way farming is done and are delighted to partner with SSK.”
Mr. Vivek Kolhe, Chairman – Kolhe Sugar Factory, highlighted the impact of the technology saying, “Our mill is the first in India to implement an AI-based harvesting solution. Having implemented a pilot project on over 3,000 acres, over three years ago, it resulted in incremental benefits and improvement in sugar recovery. Based on those results, we have decided to re-sign with Mahindra this year and implement the solution over our entire catchment area. The technology has the potential to benefit India’s sugar mills and Indian farmers in the long term.”
With a goal of revolutionising sugarcane harvesting, Mahindra has worked with various sugarcane mills for more than 4 years and is the first to use AI-based harvesting in India. Mahindra uses 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.
India is the largest producer of sugar, with sugarcane a major cash crop in India. It is grown in many states across the country and contributes substantially to India’s economy. It is a major source of food, fiber, fodder, fuel and chemicals.
