Sugarcane Farmers Research Articles

Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Brazilian Sugar Cane Ethanol Evaluated with the GREET Model Using Data Submitted to RenovaBio.

Brazil is the second-largest ethanol producer in the world, primarily using sugar cane as feedstock. To foster biofuel production, the Brazilian government implemented a national biofuel policy, known as RenovaBio, in which greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction credits are provided to biofuel producers based on the carbon intensities (CI) of the fuels they produce. In this study, we configured the GREET model to evaluate life cycle GHG emissions of Brazilian sugar cane ethanol, using data from 67 individual sugar cane mills submitted to RenovaBio in 2019/2020. The average CI per megajoule of sugar cane ethanol produced in Brazil for use in the U.S. was estimated to be 35.2 g of CO2 equivalent, a 62% reduction from U.S. petroleum gasoline blendstock without considering the impacts of land use change. The three major GHG sources were on-field N2O emissions (24.3%), sugar cane farming energy use (24.2%), and sugar cane ethanol transport (19.3%). With the probability density functions for key input parameters derived from individual mill data, we performed stochastic simulations with the GREET model to estimate the variations in sugar cane ethanol CI and confirmed that despite the larger variations in sugar cane ethanol CI, the fuel provided a robust GHG reduction benefit compared to gasoline blendstock.

Developing the Sugar Valley: Missing Linkages Between Farming and Industrial Capacity of Sugar Processing in Kilombero, Tanzania

Despite the initiatives that have been taken by the government and different stakeholders, the availability of sugar is uncertain in Tanzania for years. It is on that basis that this article uses a historical approach to analyse the mismatch between sugarcane farming and industrial processing capacity in the Kilombero valley. The shortage of sugar indicates the missing link between sugarcane farming and industrial processing capacity that is coupled with business interest of sugar dealers. We indicate that the sugar industry has been webbed in divided interests of promoting farmers on one hand and maintaining business profits on the other.

Air, Dermal, and Urinary Metabolite Levels of Backpack and Tractor Sprayers Using the Herbicide Acetochlor in Thailand.

Acetochlor is a chloroacetanilide selective pre-emergent herbicide used for controlling grass and broadleaf weeds in crops. This study compared the acetochlor exposures of backpack and tractor sprayers and assessed whether dermal or air exposures were more important contributors to the overall body burden as measured by urinary metabolites. Sixty sugarcane farmers in Nakhonsawan province, Thailand participated in the study, and breathing zone air and dermal patch samples were collected during spraying. Urine samples were collected before spraying, at the end of the spraying task, and on the day after spraying. For backpack and tractor sprayers, there was no significant difference in their breathing zone air concentrations, total body dermal samples, or urinary 2-methy-6-methyaniline (EMA) concentrations on the day after spraying. In addition, although most backpack and tractor sprayers wore long pants and long sleeve shirts, they were still exposed to acetochlor, as evidenced by a significant increase in the urinary EMA from before spraying (GM = 11.5 µg/g creatinine) to after spraying (GM = 88.5 µg/g creatinine) to the next day (GM = 111.0 µg/g creatinine). Breathing zone air samples were significantly correlated with those of total body dermal patch samples and with urinary EMA concentrations after spraying. This suggests that both air and dermal exposure contribute to urinary EMA levels.

A comprehensive study on natural farming practices - Adoption and impact on crop yield and farmer’s income

Natural farming, also known as Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), has gained significant attention and debate among agricultural scientists, government officials, farmers, and various other groups involved in agriculture in India. There are two contrasting perspectives on this topic, with some scientists dismissing the philosophy of Natural Farming while proponents claim it to be a solution for the challenges faced by Indian agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers. This study aims to address critical questions and gaps related to Natural Farming by investigating farmers’ perceptions, the components of natural farming practices they follow, input use patterns, benefit-cost ratios, constraints in adoption, and suggestions for improvement. The study conducted with 150 farmers from Anakapalle and Visakhapatnam districts aimed to investigate the perceptions, components, input use patterns, constraints, and suggestions related to Natural Farming. The findings revealed that most of the farmers were middle-aged (65.34%) with secondary education (50.67%) and significant farming experience (20.00% above 30 years). The farmers perceived Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) as agriculture without external inputs and labour (94.67%), acknowledging its role in conserving beneficial insects (93.34%) and soil fertility (92.00%). Jeevamrutham (92.00%) and crop rotation (90.67%) were the most widely adopted components of ZBNF. When comparing costs and returns, ZBNF paddy and sugarcane farmers incurred 18.55% and 19.56% less expenditure, respectively, compared to non-ZBNF farmers. However, net profits were lower for ZBNF farmers. The constraints in adopting ZBNF practices included chemically contaminated neighbouring fields (58.92%), the absence of specific prices for organic products (36.14%), difficulty in convincing family members (56.40%), and the lengthy transition period (45.23%). These insights shed light on the status and challenges faced by farmers in implementing Natural Farming practices. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into farmers’ perceptions, adoption of natural farming practices, costs and returns, and constraints faced in the adoption of ZBNF. These findings can inform policymakers, researchers, and farmers themselves in further developing and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in India.

PENGUKURAN PRODUKTIVITAS LANTAI PRODUKSI MENGGUNAKAN METODE OBJECTIVE MATRIX (OMAX) DAN FAULT TREE ANALISIS (FTA)

PT Madubaru Madukismo is a company engaged in the manufacture of granulated sugar. The problem faced by PT Madubaru Madukismo is that the company has not reached the set production target. It is known that the production target set by the company is 30,000 quintals per month. So for measuring productivity using the objective matrix (OMAX) and fault tree analysis (FTA) methods where the objective matrix (OMAX) is a partial productivity measurement system developed to monitor productivity in each part of the company with productivity criteria in accordance with the existence of that part, and fault tree analysis (FTA) is a method used to analyze the risk that causes a failure. There are five measurement ratio criteria, namely production efficiency productivity, raw material efficiency productivity, production target effectiveness productivity, machine work effectiveness productivity and number of employees productivity. Then the results obtained The highest productivity value achieved during measurements in the period May to October 2022 was in August with a productivity level of 864 and the lowest was achieved in May of 35, as well as an analysis of indicators from the calculation of the ratio 1 to 5, it can be seen that the lowest ratio is at the 3, namely the effectiveness of production targets and ratio 1, namely productivity, production efficiency. Based on the minimum cut-set, the basic events that can cause a low ratio 3 and 1 are the lack of suppliers from sugar cane farmers, workers' working hours are reduced because raw materials are late, production room temperature is hot, and does not match the jobdesk
 
 Keywords: Productivity, Ratio, Criteria, Objective Matrix (OMAX), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).

Analysis of competitiveness of sugarcane farming: A case study in Kampung Beru Village, South Sulawesi

The sugarcane based sugar industry is a source of income for sugarcane farmers and workers in the industry. However, farmers often complain about the high price and cost of farming, which result in a decrease in the quality of sugarcane. The survival of sugarcane farmers is threatened, including those in Kampung Beru Village as one of the largest suppliers of sugarcane for Takalar Sugar Factory. This study aims to explore the competitiveness of sugarcane farming based on competitive and comparative advantages. Data collection was carried out through interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) involving 76 farmers. Policy analysis matrix (PAM) was utilized for data analysis. The results showed that the private cost ratio (PCR) value, an indicator of competitive advantage, was >1 (1.048), suggesting that sugarcane farming does not have a competitive advantage. Domestic resource cost ratio (DRCR) as an indicator of comparative advantage had a value of >1 (1.795), indicating that sugarcane farming also has no comparative advantage. Sugarcane farming has extremely low competitiveness. Hence, the government is advised to increase sugarcane productivity by conducting campaigns to use superior seeds, increase the efficiency of production facilities, revise purchase price standards, and regulate the marketing system.JEL Classification A10; B40; B55

Pesticide transport through the vadose zone under sugarcane in the Wet Tropics, Australia

Abstract. Photosystem II (PS II) pesticides, recognized as a threat to ecological health, were targeted for reduction in sugarcane farming in Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments. Alternative herbicides, the non-PS II herbicides (including glyphosate, paraquat, 2,4-D, imazapic, isoxaflutole, metolachlor, and S-metolachlor), continue to be used in these catchments. However, the potential ecological fate, transport, and off-site environmental effects of non-PS II herbicides, with respect to their usage scheme, local rainfall patterns, and infiltration dynamics, have not been investigated previously. A vadose zone monitoring system, instrumented beneath sugarcane land in a GBR catchment, was applied for real-time tracing of pesticide migration across the unsaturated zone, past the root zone during 2017–2019. The regularly applied pesticides (fluroxypyr and isoxaflutole) exhibited substantial migration through the unsaturated zone. Within 1 month of application of fluroxypyr, it leached to 2.87 m depth in the vadose zone, with declining concentrations with depth. Isoxaflutole, which was applied yearly, was found only once, in November 2018, at 3.28 m depth in the soil profile. Other pesticides (imazapic, metolachlor, glyphosate, and haloxyfop) applied during the same period were not detected in the vadose zone. However, imidacloprid, which was not applied at the site during the monitored period, was detected across the entire vadose zone, revealing substantial resistance to degradation. The results show no evidence of any regularly applied pesticides in the site bores at the end of the study, indicating their ultimate degradation within the vadose zone before reaching the groundwater.

Adoption of Improved Management Practices of Sugarcane in Bara and Nawalparasi Districts

Agricultural technologies have an important role to improve productivity as well as the quality of the crops.However, the adoption of improved technology has remained poor for sugarcane in Nepal. A research was conducted in Bara and Nawalparasi (Bardhaghat Susta west (BSw)) district of Nepal with a sample for 120 sugarcane growing farmers in the year 2019 to assess adoption of improved management practices of sugarcane. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to of improved management practices among farmers. Respondents were grouped into two categories, high adopter and medium adopter based on adoption index of each farmer. The average Adoption Index (AI) value obtained was 0.685. Around fortywere high adopters. The use of credit, ownership of agri-machine, and participation. All variables had a positive relationship with the level of adoption of improved practices. The study revealed that farmers using credit, ownership of power-driven agri-machine, participation in crop related training increased the probability of farmer being high adopter. Agricultural machinery services, easy and cheap credit facilities and, easy access to extension services can help to increase in adoption of improved practices by sugarcane farmer.

Economics and Marketing of Sugarcane Production in District Mandi Bahaudin

A cash crop, sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), is regarded as a crucial raw ingredient for agricultural-based enterprises. Due to their significant contribution to GDP, the sugar industries are of utmost economic significance. In addition to offering financial incentives to the growers, it also produces byproducts that may be utilized as raw materials in other businesses to make a variety of goods. As a result, sugarcane growing has a lot of potential to boost the local economy because its operations have the potential to boost income and draw in local labor. The goal of the current study is to document knowledge about sugarcane crop marketing channels and the economic advantages of sugarcane farming in the area of Mandibahaudin, Punjab, Pakistan. Malakwal, Phalia, Qadirabad, and Gojra were the study's locations. A visit to the study area was made in order to collect the data. To gather primary data, 120 people randomly chosen from these communities were questioned using a pre–validated questionnaire. Techniques for random sampling produce accurate data. Secondary information is gathered from other sources. However, the findings support the understanding of the sugarcane crop's marketing channels as well as the financial advantages of sugarcane farming and its byproducts in the district of Mandibahaudin. Both a descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed.

Towards a bioeconomy: How sugarcane fibre price structure stimulates farm-level decisions and sugarcane biorefinery feedstock supply

Biorefineries are fundamental to support the development of bio-based economies. Further development of sugarcane biorefineries in South Africa is likely to involve the use of sugarcane fibre as a feedstock. The current cane payment system incentivises growers to supply sugarcane with high sucrose yield per hectare; consequently, they are unlikely to produce energy cane cultivars that have high yields of fibre per hectare and lower sucrose yields. Because economies of scale are central to the economic viability of biorefinery investments, sugarcane biorefinery businesses may be willing to use price mechanisms to increase their supply of sugarcane fibre. This research is a case study for the Eston milling area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It demonstrates the potential impact of changes in the price paid for fibre on the farm-level decisions pertaining to the area planted with cane, the optimal choice of cultivars, and its implication for the quantities of sugar and fibre supplied. Optimisation mathematical models representing a “typical sugarcane farm” were constructed for three agricultural areas using a representative farm level linear programming approach. Each farm model provides a baseline scenario with supply from conventional cane varieties and an alternative scenario including a hypothetical cultivar, energy cane. It was found that the introduction of a composite fibre price results in expansion of the area under cane, modifies enterprise and cultivar selection and increases biomass availability, hence revitalising the sector. This informs policy makers and stakeholders to carefully consider the impact of introducing certain strategies and policies on biorefinery biomass suppliers.

Sustainability of Sugarcane Farms in the Milagro Canton, Ecuador

The objective of the research was to evaluate the sustainability of sugarcane cultivation in the Milagro Canton of the Guayas Province in Ecuador, addressing the economic, ecological, and social dimensions, according to the Multicriteria Analysis methodology. A survey was applied to a representative probabilistic sample of 277 sugarcane growers from a target population of 422 agricultural production units dedicated to sugarcane in the Milagro Canton. In the economic dimension, the economic indicator (EconI) was 1.64 (below the referential value of 2 proposed as sustainable by the methodology) due to limitations in the diversification of production, number of marketing channels, dependence on external inputs and access to credit, despite presenting an acceptable planted area, productivity, and profitability. In the ecological dimension, the conservation of soil life and avoiding its degradation was deficient, the management of limited biodiversity, the nutrition of the crop mainly with chemical fertilizers and degradation factors, the irrigation system and burning practices are susceptible to improvement (Environmentally Sustainable Index [ESI] of 1.25). In the social dimension, the Social Indicator (SI) of 3.1 was due to values of Satisfaction of basic needs, acceptability of the production system, social integration, and acceptable ecological awareness. The results indicate that sugarcane cultivation in the Milagro Canton is not sustainable because the General Sustainability Index (GSI) was 1.99, less than 2, and not all the indicators exceeded said value.

Improving Farmers' Adaptive Coping in the Post-Covid 19 Period

The conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in feelings of anxiety, pressure, and stress on farmers. Anxiety about living during a pandemic can make farmers feel pressured; this can become a stressor for farmers. Community service activities are carried out to improve Farmers' Adaptive Coping in the Post-Covid 19 Period. Participants in this community service were sugar cane farmers, totaling 30 people. This farming community health education was carried out at the Gucialit Village Hall, Lumajang Regency. Counseling on improving Farmers' Adaptive Coping was conducted for 60 minutes using leaflets, x-banners, and banners as media. Submission of material to sugar cane farmers using the lecture method is carried out for 30 minutes, followed by discussion and question and answer for 30 minutes. The material delivered to sugar cane farmers is a Mental Health Media Kit from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. The health education evaluation results show that farmers can understand and carry out several activities to deal with stress. Health education to farmers about mental health is expected to continue to be carried out to improve farmers' adaptive coping in dealing with stress.

Adoption of farm management information systems (FMIS): The case of Brazilian sugarcane farmers

Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) have been adopted by farmers for planning, monitoring, and controlling agricultural operations. These systems are at the core of the digital farming revolution and can improve the technical, economic, and environmental efficiency of farming. This study evaluates the factors that influence the decision to adopt FMIS by sugarcane farmers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A survey of 131 sugarcane farmers provided cross-sectional farm-level data for the 2018/19 crop year, which were analyzed by a logit regression model. The decision to adopt FMIS is positively affected by farmers’ level of education, private advisor, access to rural credit, off-farm income, farm size, and use of forward contracts. FMIS adoption is associated with risk-averse farmers as part of a risk management strategy. The results can help farmers in their decisions to adopt and both policymakers and FMIS suppliers in their strategies to foster FMIS diffusion. FMIS diffusion can increase sugarcane production efficiency resulting in positive shocks to sugar and ethanol production, which are key components of Brazil's rural development and energy strategies.

Effects of land use and site on organic carbon fractions in some humic soil profiles of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Soil organic matter (SOM) and its different carbon (C) fractions play a vital role in storing C and are a source of plant nutrients in natural and managed ecosystems. This study was conducted at six sites in KwaZulu-Natal Province to determine the effect of land use on the distribution of C fractions in selected humic soil profiles from different sites, using chemical and physical fractionation. Land use at some sites had been converted from natural grassland to maize and cultivated pasture and at others from native forest/wattle plantation to sugarcane farming. Humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA), hot water extractable C (HWEC), particulate organic matter C (POM-C) and mineral-associated organic C (MAC) were analysed to 1 m depth. Cropping lowered POM-C and HWEC, in the top 100 mm, irrespective of site differences, under pasture, grassland, forest and wattle plantation. Amongst the most labile fractions, FA predominated, resulting in a HA:FA ratio < 1 for pastures. The MAC was not affected by land use, irrespective of site differences. These findings reveal that organic carbon in humic soils can be decreased by cultivation but does not inevitably indicate the loss of C storage in the stable pool.

Does Human Resource Management Practices differ at different Job Categorical in Sugarcane Farming Organization?

Human resource management practices are implemented for achieving thecompany's business sustainability. Otherwise, many companies have not realized the importance of implementing human resource management practices themselves. This study aims to analyzing the implementation of human resource management practices based on technical and non-technical employees in two different work units, namely the head office and the factory at a sugarcane plantation company in East Java Province. Approximately 150 employees selected through the proportional random sampling method from two work units and different job categories were involved as the inside sample. This research uses inferential statistical analysis method. The results of the study show that technical and non-technical employees who work in two different work units have different responses to the implementation of human resource management practices that have been implemented. Differences that occur due to differences in competency requirements and work units are also different. Furthermore, the results of the study show that compensation and career development are two variables that are considered to still need more attention and improvement from the company. Overall, the research results can also be used as material for evaluation and policy recommendations for the implementation of human resource management in companies.

Economic Analysis of Edible Sugarcane Cultivation under Drip and Non-drip Method of Irrigation in Tamil Nadu: A Field Level Study

This article attempts to investigate the effects of growing edible sugarcane using the drip as well as the conventional irrigation method with the help of field-level survey data collected in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This research investigates edible irrigated sugarcane in light of the rapid fall in irrigation water potential and low water-use efficiency in non-edible, flood-irrigated sugarcane cultivation. Using drip irrigation for growing edible sugarcane not only helps to conserve water, but also boosts crop yields. When comparing drip- and flood-irrigated edible sugarcane farming, the study indicated that the former used around 37 percent less water and the latter made about 103 percent more money. Also, compared with the more conventional flood method of irrigation (FMI), edible sugarcane grown with drip method of irrigation (DMI) reduces electricity costs by roughly 51 percent. DMI farmers had a higher gross cost of cultivation, water and electricity savings, gross value of output, productivity, and profitability from growing edible sugarcane. Finally, the study recommends that the benefits of sugarcane cultivation under drip irrigation be disseminated among farmers as soon as possible by bolstering quality extension service programmes, awareness campaigns, and providing extensive publicity on a continual basis to reduce farmer misery.

Adoption of precision agriculture technologies by sugarcane farmers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Adoption of precision agriculture technologies by sugarcane farmers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Bagaimana Petani dalam Pengelolaan Risiko? Persepsi dan Perilaku Petani Tebu di Jawa Timur

One of the challenges of increasing sugarcane productivity is that unpredictable external factors expose farmers to a variety of risk production, necessitating farmers to adapt to these changes. This study intends to examine farmers' perceptions and behavior toward risk as an alternative to a new strategy for increasing sugarcane productivity through 237 samples of sugarcane farmers in East Java. The Just and Pope model was utilized to analyze risk preferences and the probit regression model was utilized to identify the socioeconomic elements influencing this behavior. According to the perception analysis, productivity is significantly influenced by climate, pests and diseases, labor, and land area. However, farmers typically only make passive adjustments, which is consistent with the analysis that they are risk- averse. This attitude is significantly influenced by age, whereas factors like farming experience, size of the family, off-farm, and education have insignificant impacts. To anticipate the unpredictable external changes and raise the farmer's quality, it is suggested to increase the frequency of training and the use of technology. This will encourage farmers to take more chances and be more open to using new technologies.

Farm size increase alters the contribution of land use types to sources of river sediment

Farm size increase (FSI) accelerates soil erosion and sediment loss into the river. However, it is not clear how large-scale management, including FSI, changes the proportion of sediment from different land use types (LUTs) into rivers in intensive agricultural catchments. Thus, the aim of this study is to quantify and elucidate the contribution of different LUTs to river sediment before and after FSI using compound-specific stable isotopes (CSSI). The study was conducted in three parallel sub-watersheds in the sugarcane plantation region of subtropical southern China, each of which included four different LUTs (eucalyptus plantation, road, sugarcane plantation and channel). Following FSI, the contribution of sediment entering the river from the four LUTs was significantly different from that before FSI. The contribution per unit area of the road, sugarcane, and river channel to river sediment was significantly higher (P < 0.05) after FSI than before FSI. Overall, 1% increase in sugarcane farm size and stream channels caused > 2% and 0.3% increase contribution to river sediment, respectively. Field and road densities significantly correlated with river sediment sources. The FSI had a significant impact on the contribution of sediment entering the river from different LUTs within the watershed. Our results demonstrate that the increase river sediment depends on the increased hydrological connectivity of the watershed due to decreased field density and increased road density. Therefore, it is important to pay attention not only to the agricultural/economic benefits of FSI, but also the negative impacts on increasing erosion and ecological/environmental degradation.

Emerging Dynamics in Mkwasine Sugar Estate After the Land Reform in Zimbabwe

Using secondary as well as descriptive data collected from a sample of 45 farmers in Mkwasine Sugar Estate in Chiredzi District in Zimbabwe’s south eastern lowveld, this study examined the dynamics that have emerged in Mkwasine Sugar Estate in the aftermath of land reform. The estate, formerly owned by the multinational-between Tongaat Hullet Group (THG) of South Africa was compulsorily acquired for the resettlement of black farmers in an attempt to redress the colonial imbalance of land ownership between whites and blacks. The study highlights reconfigured land ownership structures, tenure regimes, tensions and conflicts between the THG and the farmers as well as amongst the farmers themselves. Findings from the study established the reconfiguration of the once centrally managed estate into individually run farms of 10-20 hectares by over 400 black sugarcane farmers. The study recommends the resolution of contestations by all the stakeholders for the sustenance of the sugar industry