‘Microsoft’s AI Tools Help Maha Farmers Increase Yield by 20%’
Microsoft’s $3 billion commitment to expand the Azure infrastructure in India may have grabbed the limelight at the Microsoft AI Tour in Bengaluru; however, the company’s push to revolutionise sectors such as healthcare and agriculture also led to some key announcements by CEO Satya Nadella. An AI agritech startup that has partnered with Microsoft is working to eliminate guesswork in farming and empower farmers with science-backed insights to make effective decisions. Meet AgriPilot.ai Maharashtra-based AI startup AgriPilot.ai has collaborated with Microsoft Research for over five years, integrating AI, satellite imagery, and other tools to transform the farming sector. Identifying critical factors such as soil nutrient levels, water availability, and suitable weather conditions are some of the areas AgriPilot.ai specialises in to optimise crop yield and resource usage. “We have started seeing the results. Satya took that in his showcase because these are proven models now,” Prashant Mishra, founder of Click2cloud Inc., which hosts the platform AgriPilot.ai, told AIM in an exclusive interaction. Mishra confirmed that experimentation has been done for more than 2,50,000 hectares of land around the world. “This [AgriPilot.ai] is precisely for the marginalised farmer because Microsoft wanted to work with those with less than two acres of land. So, about a thousand farmers, with less land and resources, are currently benefitting from it,” said Mishra, emphasising that their goal is to prevent farmer suicides and distress by making them self-sustainable. The startup has conducted experiments, such as cultivating sugarcane thrice the size of conventional crops. It claims that the yield has doubled. Akin to conventional farming, the startup has also enabled the farming of exotic vegetables such as strawberries and dragon fruits on local farms. “Normally, five-star hotels import strawberries and dragon fruits from other countries, but with AI, we are able to grow them on local farms. Thanks to these exotic vegetables, the poor farmers are able to multiply their earnings, probably by 10 times or more,” he said. Agripilot.ai has collaborated with the Agriculture Development Trust, Baramati, which claims that these new tools have increased crop production by 20%, as presented in the Microsoft keynote session. AgriPilot employs a ‘no-touch’ approach, utilising satellite and drone imagery to gather farm data remotely. This allows them to provide detailed crop management plans, from pre-planting to harvesting, customised for farmers. This has all been made possible with the help of AI. The Microsoft Bond AgriPilot has built a strong partnership with Microsoft Research, leveraging its advanced tools and platforms to transform farming practices. Though Microsoft has not directly invested in AgriPilot.ai, the latter depends on it for critical technological support and open-source tools. Nadella also met with the team at ADT Baramati, which uses AI tools to help farmers achieve healthy and sustainable harvests. The startup integrates Microsoft Azure Data Manager and FarmBeats to analyse soil health, monitor water availability, and optimise fertiliser usage through precise, data-driven insights. Empowering Women Besides, AgriPilot partners with Pratham, a non-profit organisation, to train farmers in using these advanced technologies. This collaboration supports farmer education and provides employment opportunities for women, enabling them to conduct AI-powered soil testing independently using on-site machines. To ensure accessibility, instructions are provided in local languages, such as Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Farsi, and Hebrew, translated through Microsoft Copilot. The collected data is then fed into AgriPilot’s platform, where AI models analyse it to deliver actionable results and outcomes for the farmers. AgriPilot is also conducting experiments in countries like Qatar, Dubai, Peru, USA, Malaysia and India. “Baramati [Maharashtra] in India was the first [place where we experimented], and now we are doing the same in Uttar Pradesh with Microsoft,” he said. Big Tech’s Agri Mission Meanwhile, other big tech companies have also been actively involved in the agri space. Last year, Google announced the availability of its Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API, which integrates satellite imagery with AI to deliver farm-level insights. The API is designed to support India’s agricultural sector by enabling data-driven decision-making, optimising farm management, and addressing productivity challenges. Google recently partnered with the UP government to launch a Gemini-powered open network for farmers. This DPI for agriculture utilises Google’s DPI-in-a-box solution and the Beckn protocol. Big tech is also powering agritech startups such as Bengaluru-based Cropin, which helps farmers make informed decisions based on historical, present and future data. When asked about future collaborations with other companies, Mishra was clear that their focus is currently on Microsoft alone. This year, they will work towards improving accuracy before proceeding to full-scale expansion.
The tech giant has partnered with Maharashtra-based AgriPilot.ai for over five years, leveraging AI and satellite imagery to transform farming.
The tech giant has partnered with Maharashtra-based AgriPilot.ai for over five years, leveraging AI and satellite imagery to transform farming.
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As a rare blend of engineering, MBA, and journalism degree, Vandana Nair brings a unique combination of technical know-how, business acumen, and storytelling skills to the table. Her insatiable curiosity for all things startups, businesses, and AI technologies ensures that there's always a fresh and insightful perspective to her reporting. She now hosts her tech segment 'Point Break' on AIM Tv.