Mahindra introduces AI-enabled maturity-based sugarcane harvesting at SM Shankarao Kolhe SSK, Maharashtra

Mahindra & Mahindra became the first company in the country to offer Sahakar Maharshi Shankarao Kolhe SSK Ltd. (formerly Sanjeevani Sugars) in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, an AI-enabled sugarcane harvesting program, thereby spearheading the implementation of sugar-content based harvesting for the country's sugar industry.

The AI-based technology will be used to accurately measure the sugar content of all registered sugarcane areas under Sahakar Maharshi Shankarao Kolhe during the 2024 crushing season. This would allow for timely harvesting of the sugarcane crop. 

Mr. Hemant Sikka, President of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.'s Farm Equipment Sectors, discussed the progress, ″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 we at Mahindra aim to transform the way farming is done and are delighted to partner with SSK.″  

The Kolhe Sugar Factory's Chairman, Mr. Vivek Kolhe, emphasised the significance of technology by 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 revolutionary technology has the potential to benefit India’s sugar mills and Indian farmers in the long term.″ 

Mahindra is the first firm to deploy AI-based harvesting in India, and it has worked with several sugarcane mills for more than 4 years intending to revolutionise sugarcane harvesting. Mahindra measures the precise amount of sugar in the sugarcane crop using spectrometry, satellite imagery, and advanced precision farming techniques. The photosynthetic components of crop leaves are analysed by AI algorithms to identify and predict maturity phases. The algorithms then estimate the optimal time to harvest for maximum sugar output and, eventually, farmer earnings.

India is the world's top producer of sugar, and sugarcane is a significant cash crop there. It is widely grown throughout the nation and makes a significant contribution to the GDP (gross domestic product) of agriculture. It is a significant source of chemicals, fuel, fibre, feed, and food.