Latest news with #VasantdadaSugarInstitute
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Use of AI likely to help enhance sugarcane production by 30%, say expert
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could bring down the need of water in sugarcane farming by 50 per cent and increase the per acre produce by nearly 30 per cent, an expert in the field said on Wednesday. Notably, a meeting was recently held in Pune in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar where the use of AI in sugarcane farming was discussed. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Vasantdada Sugar Institute and Agricultural Development Trust was signed to explore ways to ensure this technology reaches as many farmers as possible. "Microsoft has already worked for a long time on the use of AI for sugarcane cultivation and is assuring 30 per cent growth in sugarcane production and curtailing water usage (in its farming) to half. This will help to run the sugar mills for a longer time (more than 110 days) and losses will also be less," Maharashtra State Co-Operative Sugar Factories Federation Ltd director Jayprakash Dandegaonkar told PTI. 'The 40 (23 co-operative and 17 private) sugar mills in Maharashtra which do not owe any debt to the VSI will be included in this project (of AI use in sugarcane cultivation)," he said. A group of 25 sugarcane cultivating farmers in a two-km radius will have a station (automated AI facility) which will report to war rooms of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and the VSI, the former state minister said. An amount of Rs 25,000 may be needed initially for the cost incurred by a farmer. The war rooms will alert these farmers in a few seconds about steps to be taken during the cultivation, he said. This technology will work on forecasting, soil testing, watering alerts, limiting the use of pesticides and protecting nutrients of the soil, he added. The tonnage of sugarcane in Maharashtra has gone down, Dandegaonkar pointed out. "Due to less rainfall, the per acre production in the state has come down to 73 tonnes. The use of AI can definitely help us to reach at least 150 tonnes per acre in the near period," he said. "Farmers need to install drips in their fields for this (irrigation). We can expect the first such station (automated AI facility) installed and put into operation by August-end or the first week of September," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
AI in cane cultivation can boost economics: Sharad Pawar
Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief and former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sugarcane cultivation can change the sector's economics and elevate the living standards of farmers. He was speaking at an event on the theme 'How AI can be used in the field of farming such as sugarcane cultivation, rice and horticulture' in the presence of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, state agriculture minister Manikrao Kokake and cooperation minister Balasaheb Patil. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Vasantdada Sugar Institute and Agricultural Development Trust was signed to explore ways to ensure the technology reaches as many farmers as possible. Pointing out lacunas in the sector, Pawar said sugar mills are not getting adequate cane, resulting in a crushing season that lasts only for 100 days or even less, which results in underutilisation of factory machinery and negative impact on the financial viability. 'The solution lies in increasing per-acre sugarcane yield and to achieve this, AI can play a major role. Increasing cane yield using AI, and thereby producing more sugar and by-products like ethanol, is the right approach. AI can transform the economics of sugarcane. It can help improve farmers' standard of living and generate good revenue. We must therefore implement this technology on a large scale,' he asserted. AI will be useful for all crops, but it will be a true 'game-changer' for sugarcane, Pawar added. The Agricultural Development Trust has initiated a programme with the help of Oxford University, he said. 'Experts from Vasantdada Sugar Institute and Agricultural Development Trust are working together to figure out how to set up weather stations and shelters in fields, how to use them to boost sugarcane yields. They will provide this information by visiting different sugar factories,' Pawar said. 'Every sugar factory has agriculture officers. I have consistently complained that these officers focus only on cane planting dates, harvesting schedules, and transport arrangements. They don't pay attention to how the cane grows, how to improve its quality or recovery rate. I would like to request all cooperative sugar factories to take steps to improve their agriculture departments, If need be, VSI will impart necessary training,' he said. Talking about the expenses of setting up AI-enabled systems in sugarcane farms, Pawar said the initial cost is ₹25,000 per hectare. 'Of this, ₹9,000 will be paid by the farmer, ₹6,750 by the sugar factory, and ₹9,250 will be contributed by Vasantdada Institute. It is good that the state agriculture department, Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank are now taking more interest in this project,' Pawar said. To implement AI, drip irrigation is essential, he said urging key drip irrigation system manufacturers to reduce the pricing. Ajit swaps nameplates to avoid sitting next to Pawar Sr Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Monday swapped the nameplates kept on the dais at an event in Pune to avoid sitting next to uncle and NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, the move coming amid speculation that factions led by the two leaders could be looking at burying the hatchet and reuniting. The NCP split in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar joined the then Eknath Shinde government. The party name and clock symbol were given to the Ajit faction, while the one headed by the former Union agriculture minister was christened NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). The nameplate swap took place at an event at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in farming. As per the initial sitting arrangements, the nameplates of the two leaders were next to each other. However, the deputy CM moved the board having his name one chair away to allow state cooperation minister Babasaheb Patil to sit between him and the NCP (SP) chief. Incidentally, the sequence of events was a rerun of a similar act by Ajit Pawar at VSI itself this January. That time too, he had allowed Patil to sit next to Sharad Pawar. (With agency inputs)
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Business Standard
01-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Cane variety with 14% sugar recovery rate can boost Maha's economy: Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the economic potential of a new sugarcane variety with a 14 per cent sugar recovery rate, stating that it could increase Maharashtra's economic output by ₹25,000 crore. Speaking at the silver jubilee event of the Saturday Club Global Trust in Nagpur, Gadkari said, 'Brazil has developed a sugarcane breed through biotechnology that offers a 14 per cent sugar recovery. If we use a similar variety in Maharashtra, it could positively impact our state's economy by ₹25,000 crore.' 'Kolhapur district currently records the highest sugar recovery in Maharashtra, at around 12 to 12.5 per cent, while Vidarbha lags at approximately 11.25 per cent. Even a 1 per cent increase in sugar recovery translates to gains of ₹7 to ₹8 crore,' he noted, highlighting the substantial economic benefits of improved sugarcane breeds. The minister mentioned that he had provided the Vasantdada Sugar Institute with comprehensive information about the high-yielding variety and requested it to develop a breed tailored to local conditions. 'Anyone who understands demand and supply can succeed. If you identify what is in short supply and produce it, there is profit,' he said. During his address, Gadkari also spoke about the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, stressing the importance of understanding market dynamics. He further emphasised that credibility and honesty are essential traits for entrepreneurs today. 'Credibility is more important than anything else in business. There are no shortcuts. Quality and punctuality are essential, and one must think with a futuristic vision for at least the next 25 years,' he added. Automobile industry Sharing insights on manufacturing scale, Gadkari recounted a conversation with the World Chairman of Mercedes-Benz. 'I told him I do not approve of your business model. You produce only 20,000 cars a year. If you increase that to two lakh cars, your production cost will fall by 22 per cent. Managing both quality and volume is crucial. Higher volumes reduce costs and improve market positioning,' he remarked. He pointed out that when he assumed office, the Indian automobile industry was worth ₹7 trillion, ranking seventh globally. 'Today, it is ₹23 trillion, and we have overtaken Japan to become the third-largest automobile economy. The United States tops the list at ₹78 trillion, followed by China at ₹49 trillion,' he said. Alternative fuels Discussing the shift towards alternative fuels, Gadkari acknowledged that while petrol and diesel remain the global standards, India is moving ahead with vehicles using CNG, LNG, ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen. 'My own car runs on a flex engine with 40 per cent ethanol blended in petrol. Petrol costs ₹120 per litre, while ethanol is about ₹60. Flex engines reduce transportation costs significantly,' he pointed out.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pint by pint, women reclaim their brewing legacy
1 2 3 4 5 6 Pune: A new generation of women brewers is bringing fresh perspectives and bold flavours to the Indian craft beer scene. Kajal Manchanda, head brewer at Bira's Mumbai microbrewery, passion was born from scientific curiosity. "During my undergraduate studies in industrial microbiology, I came across a small section on fermentation in a textbook. It had just one page on beer and wine, but that was enough to spark my curiosity," the 30-year-old said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Growing up in Haridwar, where alcohol consumption wasn't widely discussed, Manchanda carved her own path. "I studied at Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Pune where I specialised in brewing. That decision set the course for my career. I've been in this industry for eight years working with breweries in Pune, Bengaluru, and Delhi before joining Bira." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Is Reported To Have Read Every... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo She oversees production and innovation at the pan-India brand. "If it's a brewing day, it takes about 7-8 hours to complete the process. We start early to ensure everything is done in time. Each new beer comes with its own challenges. For example, we launched a Bebinca Stout, inspired by the Goan dessert. We incorporated coconut and nutmeg and it was a huge hit." She brought together members of the Women Brewers Collective from across India to share knowledge, discuss ideas, and innovations. "It started as a small initiative and has grown into a collective of over 20 women. This year, we brewed Hazy Passion, a cloudy IPA using New Zealand hops. The brew day was an incredible experience with my peers," Manchanda said. She has always enjoyed experimenting with flavours. "Some years ago, I created a Maggi Masala beer using the masala. Another experiment was a Tamarind Red Ale, inspired by the sweet and tangy chutney that goes with samosa. The best thing about brewing in India is that our local markets are filled with unique ingredients—you can walk in and find a hundred things that could inspire a new beer." At just 27, Chaitrali Bedre, head brewer at Igloo Brew Works in Navi Mumbai, has made her mark in craft brewing. "Most people go for engineering, but I wanted to explore a field that wasn't conventional. When I told people about my course, their reaction was usually, 'I didn't even know this existed!' At first, I wasn't sure how my parents would react. The alcohol industry is unconventional, and I was going to be working with beer—trying drinks, experimenting with brews. But they were supportive. My father is an electrician, and my mother is a homemaker; they live in Pune while I work in Mumbai," she said. Before joining Igloo, Bedre interned at Effingut Brewery in Pune and worked in blending and bottling at distilleries in Aurangabad. "The start was definitely tough. Brewing isn't a white-collar job—it's physically demanding. You have to lift heavy bags of malt, kegs, and raw materials. But over time, I got comfortable with the work. The best part is that I genuinely enjoy what I do. Unlike large-scale commercial breweries, we aren't bound by strict recipes. I get to design my own beers, which makes the job even more creative and rewarding," Bedre said, adding that her favourite creations include the Imperial Stout, rich with coffee flavours, and the good ol' Blonde Ale, a simple brew. Vidya Kubher, head brewer at Bengaluru-based Geist Brewery, took an unconventional route. "I started my career in programming, then moved into factory work for an automotive tooling company. But my love for beer was always there—my travels were beer-centric, especially to Germany and Belgium, where beer culture is deeply rooted. The more I learned, the more serious I became about brewing, and eventually decided to do a course in brewing," she said. After training at Siebel Institute in Chicago and Doemens Academy in Munich, Kubher returned to India, just as the craft beer movement was taking shape. "I first came across Geist beers in 2006, when they were still contract-brewing in Belgium and importing to India. Then, by chance, I read an article about Geist setting up a local brewery. It felt like the stars had aligned. I immediately sent in my resume, and that's how I joined Geist in 2012—right at the beginning of the craft beer boom in India," she said. Kubher's journey has been one of learning and discovery. "I had read that brewing is male-dominated, but my personal experience so far is different. The craft beer movement has helped bring more women into the industry. Small-scale craft brewing is not just about industrial production, it also allows for creativity," she added. With a core team of about 20 brewers, Kubher is now focused on expanding operations while maintaining quality and innovation. "We're also focusing on experimenting with flavours this year. The Indian beer market is evolving, and there's a lot of room to introduce new styles, ingredients, brewing techniques, and plenty of space for talented and dedicated brewers," she added.
