Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has urged sugarcane farmers to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve productivity and boost incomes, stressing that traditional farming practices are no longer sufficient, Devdiscourse reported.
Speaking at a farmers’ fair at Punjab Agricultural University, Mann said technology can help cane growers select suitable crop varieties and plan cultivation more efficiently, leading to higher yields and better returns.
He noted that while Punjab played a major role in the Green Revolution, it has also faced challenges such as declining soil health and water levels. He said the use of modern tools like AI can help make sugarcane cultivation more efficient and sustainable.
Highlighting support measures for farmers, the Chief Minister said the government is ensuring uninterrupted power supply and timely payments, along with increasing the state-advised price for sugarcane.
He also pointed to efforts to expand canal irrigation, which will benefit water-intensive crops like sugarcane, and announced a ₹1,300-crore horticulture project supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Mann said these steps are aimed at strengthening farmers’ incomes and securing the future of agriculture in the state, with a focus on improving returns from crops such as sugarcane.
