- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The farmer is based in Battis Shirala town in Maharashtra and is part of the Baramati Co-op. Microsoft has been working with the farmers in the region to enhance crop yield
By: India Weekly
THE USE of artificial intelligence by a small farmer in Maharashtra to enhance crop yields has now caught the attention of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
In a video shared on microblogging platform ‘X’ on Monday (24), Nadella highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of agriculture and farming.
He pointed out that a small farmer in Battis Shirala town in Maharashtra, has used AI to enhance crop yields and reduce chemical usage while also optimising water consumption.
Calling the impact “phenomenal” he said, “The one example that I wanted to highlight was one of the small farmers who was part of the Baramati Co-op, where you can take this powerful technology but make it have an impact, where a small landowner is able to improve the yield of their land.”
Reacting to the video, Elon Musk wrote, “AI will improve everything.”
The sugarcane farmers in the region have been facing significant challenges – from crushing debt to droughts, pests, and diseases affecting their harvests.
In 2022, Microsoft started an agri-tech project in Baramati, in partnership with the Agricultural Development Trust, which was founded in 1968 by former union minister Sharad Pawar along with his elder brother Appasaheb Pawar.
This initiative leverages AI tools to help farmers achieve healthy and sustainable harvests.
The collaboration with Microsoft Research aims to integrate AI, satellite imaging, and other technologies to drive transformative change in the agricultural sector.
The US technology giant has also joined hands with the Indian government’s artificial intelligence programme unit IndiaAI to train 500,000 individuals, including students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs on AI by 2026.
