Pune: Farmers in Baramati are setting a new benchmark in agriculture by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology into their farming practices. Through the “Farm of the Future” initiative—a collaboration between the Agricultural Development Trust (ADT), Baramati, and Microsoft—farmers are achieving higher yields, reducing costs, and practicing sustainable farming.

AI Transforming Baramati Agriculture

The project, launched in January 2024, has already shown promising results. Using AI-based tools like weather stations, satellite data, and mobile applications, farmers are receiving precise recommendations on irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. For instance, sugarcane production increased by 30% in weight and 20% in sugar content while requiring less water and fertilizer. The crop cycle also shortened from 18 months to 12 months.

Technology Empowering Farmers

The initiative uses Microsoft’s Azure Data Manager for Agriculture and FarmVibes.ai to collect and analyze data from various sources. Farmers access actionable insights via the Agripilot.ai mobile app, available in Marathi, Hindi, and English. This enables them to make informed decisions and optimize farming practices.

Farmer-Centric Approach

Prataprao Pawar, trustee of ADT, emphasized the importance of demonstrable results in convincing farmers: “Seeing is believing. When farmers witness improvements firsthand, they readily adopt new practices.”

Broad Participation

The project initially enrolled 20,000 farmers, with 1,000 participating in the first phase. Farmers like Suresh Jagtap report significant improvements in their yields and farming efficiency.

Dr. Yogesh Phatak of ADT highlighted the excitement among farmers: “They are eager to learn from real-time data, and the impact of AI is evident.”

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella lauded the initiative during a recent visit, stating, “It’s inspiring to see how AI is empowering farmers to achieve sustainable agriculture.”