Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized AI’s transformative role in Indian agriculture, particularly for small sugarcane farmers facing significant challenges. In a recent post, he highlighted how AI has empowered farmers in Battis Shirala, Maharashtra, enhancing crop yields while reducing chemical usage and optimizing water consumption. Nadella described the results as “phenomenal” and noted the use of geospatial data from drones and satellites to assist farmers. Furthermore, Microsoft’s partnership with the Agricultural Development Trust initiated an agri-tech project aimed at sustainable farming. He also reflected on Microsoft’s past oversight in not recognizing the potential of search engines on the web.
Recently, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the agricultural sector of India. In a post on X, Mr. Nadella shared the experiences of sugarcane farmers from small towns who have historically encountered severe challenges such as debt and suicide, largely due to pests, drought, and diseases impacting their crops.
However, the adoption of AI has significantly improved their situation. Mr. Nadella presented a video on X, illustrating how AI enabled a small farmer in Battis Shirala, Maharashtra, to boost crop yields, minimize chemical use, and optimize water efficiency. He described the influence of AI in agriculture as “phenomenal.”
He stated, “The one example I wanted to showcase was a small farmer affiliated with the Baramati Co-op, where this powerful technology can truly make a difference—allowing a small landowner to enhance their land’s yield. The data they provided regarding reductions in chemicals, enhancements in water management, and ultimately yield improvement was phenomenal.” Additionally, he mentioned the application of geospatial data from drones and satellites to assist farmers in a language they understand.
Here’s the video:
AI will improve everything https://t.co/KqBvDC9ljl
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 24, 2025
Reacting to the video, Elon Musk commented, “AI will improve everything.”
In 2022, Microsoft launched an agri-tech initiative in Baramati in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Trust (ADT). This program leverages AI technologies to assist farmers in achieving healthier and more sustainable harvests. Moreover, the partnership with Microsoft Research seeks to incorporate AI, satellite imagery, and various other technologies to facilitate significant advancements in agriculture.
Previously, the Microsoft CEO acknowledged that one of his major oversights was not foreseeing the supremacy of search as a market, a field that Google successfully took advantage of. He noted that Microsoft initially believed the web would remain decentralized, failing to anticipate that search would emerge as the most lucrative business model.
Reflecting on this experience, he remarked: “We (Microsoft) overlooked what became the biggest business model on the web because we all assumed the web was fundamentally about distribution.”