Sugarcane Zone Research Articles

Disposability, social security, and the facts of work in Nicaragua’s sugarcane zone

ABSTRACT This article explores the instability of facts surrounding former sugarcane workers in Nicaragua with Chronic Kidney Disease of Non-Traditional Causes (CKDnt). CKDnt is a progressive disease that has been linked, albeit inconclusively, to working conditions in sugarcane plantations and other extreme environments. It emerged in the early twenty-first century, at a time when the social and political value of agricultural labor in Nicaragua and across the Americas was shifting due to the rise of new regimes of corporate responsibility and neoliberalized systems of state care. Partly as a result of a lack of conclusive knowledge about what causes the disease, former workers receive uneven medical and social benefits from both sugarcane corporations and the Nicaraguan social security system, the Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social (INSS). This article traces the parallel emergence of Nicaragua’s agro-economy and the INSS during the twentieth century, and it draws on ethnographic research with ex-workers to understand how the making of facts about work and the making of facts about health shape each other. The article argues that the disposability of labor is not an inherent feature of monocrop capitalism; rather, disposability emerges as corporations and state authorities work strategically to manage the inherent porosity of the boundaries between plantations and their socio-political surroundings.

Value-Addition in Biomass for enhanced Household Energy Security in Navakholo Sub-County, Kenya

Although firewood is still the dominant source of energy in the majority of rural households in Navakholo, its sustainable availability is threatened by a steady decline in tree cover as much land gets converted to agricultural use. Opportunities for expanding energy security in such places reside in previously untapped potential for value addition on biomass energy sources. The broad objective of this research was to enhance availability and access to biomass energy while at the same time conserving tree cover for posterity. The specific objective was to assess opportunities for energy security through value-addition on available biomass energy sources. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey and focus group discussions in each of the five Wards of the Sub-County. Descriptive statistics and content analysis of responses were used to analyse the data and generate knowledge to inform future decision-making. Although Navakholo sub-county is a maize and sugarcane zone, results showed that value-addition practices on these two biomass energy sources such as through briquetting are non-existent. Much of the maize cobs are directly used as low energy fuel or simply left to rot away. Cow dung, which has a potential for energy provision through conversion into energy balls is usually used as manure in the farm. In addition, investment in biogas production is untapped because of the high initial costs. Only rudimentary approaches such as use of saw dust in cook stoves, and extinguishing firewood and charcoal after the day’s cooking are used to ease the pressure on available firewood. Although charcoal is a value-added product on wood fuel, respondents did not see it from that perspective. It was instead viewed as an energy alternative for those who could afford it. Opportunities for other value-added products like briquettes from charcoal, dust, saw dust and sugarcane cutting singly or in blended form remains unexploited. With appropriate exposure and capacity building on binder material and supply of press equipment, availability of biomass energy can be increased through the conversion of readily available maize cobs into briquettes. Secondary feedstock like cow dung, charcoal dust and saw dust may also be converted or used as binder material.

Variation in atmospheric air ion and its index of pollution during morning time (06:00 to 08:00 IST) in the sugarcane area at rural station Bhilawadi (16.5oN, 74.2oE)

The present paper reports the diurnal variation in +ve and −ve air ion concentration and pollution index in a sugarcane field [genus: Saccharum spp., variety: CO86032 (NAYANA)] in the vegetation area situated at rural station Bhilawadi (16.5°N, 74.2°E), India. It is a hybrid variety of CO62108 and CO671. The outcomes introduced in this investigation propose that the open ecological air or particularly the sugarcane zone shows enormous convergence of −ve air ions which are basic for human wellbeing. It is due to ionisation, photosynthesis, transpiration and radon exhalation process by sugarcane. The results presented in this study suggest that the open environmental air or especially the sugarcane area exhibits large concentrations of −ve air ions which are essential for human health. Though all living beings interact with the environment, only human beings have less interaction with the environment, so attempts should be made to use natural resources to have better health.

Labor relations, Catholic Church and rights in the sugarcane zone of Pernambuco: organization and mobilization of rural workers in the military regime

This paper aims at discussing the relationship between mobilizations of rural workers and the Catholic Church in the sugarcane zone of Pernambuco. The period covered spans from the beginning of the Church's interest in the rural areas relations, with the institutional renewal promoted by the Second Vatican Council and the Medellin Conference, to the repression of the institution by the military regime with the monitoring and persecution of members of the Church in defense of justice, dignity and rights of civil society, especially of the workers in Brazil. In order to carry out this analysis, we begin from the historiographical discussion and the crossing of sources provided by the Church, by means of communication and by the Information Services of the 1964 authoritarian regime.

Assessing the Impacts of Large-Scale Agro-Industrial Sugarcane Production on Biodiversity: A Case Study of Wonji Shoa Sugar Estate, Ethiopia

Despite the intense debates on the land acquisition effects of large-scale Ethiopian sugarcane plantations and the consequences for food security, the impact on biodiversity has received less attention. We compared remnant patches in the sugarcane zone to the adjacent woodlands to determine the impacts of sugarcane on the diversity, composition, and structure of woody species. We recorded individual woody specimens with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5 cm from 56 quadrats of 200 m2 at each site in a systematic, random, and gradient-oriented transect design. In addition, we employed a trait-based risk assessment framework to examine the threat posed by agro-industrial sugarcane production on mammals, birds, and rodents. A total of 56 woody species, 38 in the woodlands and 30 in the sugarcane zone, were identified. The proportion of non-native woody species was higher (63%) in the sugarcane zone than in the adjacent woodlands (1%). The rodents and mammals were more abundant in the woodlands than in the sugarcane zone. Although we did not investigate all of the bird and mammal species, our results identified six rodent species, five mammal species, and one bird species as susceptible to sugarcane agriculture activities. The results suggest that large-scale agro-industrial sugarcane production impacts species diversity, composition and abundance of species, and species’ resource requirements.

Metales pesados en suelos y sedimentos de la zona cañera del sur de Quintana Roo, México

In order to determine the heavy metals content and distribution in an area cultivated with sugarcane in the Río Hondo basin, southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, 10 samples of surficial sediments were collected from the main agricultural drain and 18 samples from soils developed on a karst aquifer. The samples were obtained on february 2016, during the dry season. Concentrations of Hg, Cd, Cu, and Fe and physicochemical parameters such pH, organic matter and cation exchange capacity were measured. In order to understand the distribution of the heavy metals, we performed descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, analysis of variance, t test, principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. The mean concentration of heavy metals in soil, in descending order were: Fe > Cu > Cd > Hg with soil values of 25,334.13 mg∙kg-1, 10.56 mg∙kg-1, 0.55 mg∙kg-1 and 0.02 mg∙kg-1, respectively; the sediment values found were 19,952.68 mg∙kg-1, 8.00 mg∙kg-1, 0.54 mg∙kg-1 and 0.06 mg∙kg-1, respectively. The physical and chemical parameters were homogeneous within the study area. The origin of Hg, Cd and Cu concentrations could be anthropogenic. Although Fe is naturally found in the study area, it is possible that the current distribution of this metal is also due to agricultural activity. The main factor in the distribution of heavy metals in the agricultural soils of the sugarcane zone is the carrying of soil particulates caused by runoff, and the greater contribution of these pollutants to the agricultural drain occurs mainly by the entrainment of particulates from gleysol type soils.

Potassium adsorption in soil cultivated with sugarcane.

Vinasse is a byproduct of the process of distillation of sugarcane juice for the manufacture of sugar and alcohol. Because it is rich in nutrients, mainly potassium (K), is used as fertilizer and applied via fertigation, without concerning for the fate of this compound in the soil. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the interactions of the potassium ion (K+), applied via vinasse in a soil representative of the sugarcane zone of the State of Pernambuco using adsorption isotherms. The methodology was based on physical, chemical and soil mineralogical characterization, as well as equilibrium batch tests, where the experimental curves were fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The results allowed to infer that the Freundlich model showed better fit of the curve in both forms: linear and non-linear (direct fit); the non-linear model was selected due to the values ​​of coefficient of determination (R²). The interaction between potassium and soil occurred mainly with organic matter and the presence of soil kaolinite, because they showed negative ions on the external surface, thereby promoting potassium adsorption. Soil potassium adsorption capacity was higher for the first layer (0-20 cm) and decreased along the depth profile.

Comparing sugarcane fields and forest fragments: the effect of disturbance on soil physical properties and nematode assemblages

AbstractComparisons of agricultural and natural ecosystems reveal the magnitude of the effects of agricultural practices on the diversity and abundance of soil nematodes. Consequently, there is the need for testing ecological hypotheses, specifically with regard to nematode ecology, in natural and agricultural soils to seek strategies for biological control and environmental monitoring. We studied soil nematode assemblages and soil physical attributes of five soil layers (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40 and 40–50 cm) from sugarcane plantations and forest remnants in the sugarcane zone of Pernambuco State, Brazil. Structure and composition of the nematode assemblage and soil properties differed between forest and sugarcane soils, even in the same locality. The soil bulk density and the abundance of all nematodes and the diversity of plant‐parasitic nematodes were greater whereas soil porosity, soil respiration and abundance of predator nematodes were smaller in sugarcane than in forest areas. We suggest that sugarcane management practices result in changes in the soil properties and concomitantly alter the composition and structure of the nematode assemblages. Co‐inertia analysis indicated that others environmental factors also might be affecting the nematofauna.

Agroindustrial Evaluation of Sugarcane Varieties in the Central Zone of Veracruz, Mexico

The use of sugarcane varieties having high agroindustrial production, that are resistant to primary pests and diseases and are well adapted to regional conditions is a key factor for increasing the yield of this crop. The objective of this study was to agronomically and industrially evaluate a set of 12 sugarcane varieties in terms of their planting and ratoon cycles. This investigation used methodological protocols developed by the Instituto para el Mejoramiento de la Produccion de Azucar (IMPA) (Institute for the Improvement of Sugarcane Production) to assess the agroindustrial potential of new varieties. The 12 varieties were evaluated by testing them under the same management and climate conditions. An experimental design of completely randomized blocks and three replicates was used. Yield (t ha -1 ) and sucrose content (%) were assessed. There were no significant differences for yield (p > 0.05) with regard to planting cycle. Control variety Q-96 had the highest sucrose content (15.95%). For the ratoon cycle, the highest yield corresponded to variety L 73-65 with 178 t ha -1 , and the lowest value was for variety HA 64-20 having 107 t ha -1 . Variety Mex 91-662 had the greatest sucrose content (17.66%) and its yield (171 t ha -1 ) shows that this variety has great promise for the sugarcane zone supplying the El Modelo refinery and for the state of Veracruz.

Social sustainability of the Brazilian bioethanol: Power relations in a centre-periphery perspective

While the environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability have received plenty of attention in biofuel policies and assessment, only recently has the social pillar gained increasing weight, demonstrated e.g. by debates over the dilemmas such as food vs. fuel and large vs. small-scale biofuel production. This paper calls for greater attention to power relations when assessing biofuel policies. A centre-periphery framework is applied for examining power relations in the Brazilian sugar and alcohol sector since the launching of the country's transport biofuel programme, Prolcool, in 1975. Particular attention is paid to the country's poor Northeast, today responsible for a small fraction of bioethanol production in Brazil, but highly dependent on its sugar and alcohol sector for employment and economic output. The analysis demonstrates the pervasive role of unequal and rigid power relations in shaping Prolcool's social impacts. The small sugar elite in the Northeast has increased its power and protected itself against market instability by diversifying its activity, while the benefits have failed to trickle down to the poorest in the sugarcane zone in the Northeast coast. The recent and on-going entry of new players in the Brazilian biofuel scene may provide opportunities of breaking the entrenched power structures and creating space for more pro-poor policies, notably through international sustainability certification. Any such schemes must, however, be designed carefully to avoid capture by the regional elites, and counteract the present tendencies towards further concentration of power a danger particularly acute in the development of advanced next generation biofuels.

Impact of antihelminthic treatment on infection by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms in Covas, a rural community of Pernambuco, Brazil

This work aims to evaluate the impact of drug treatment on infection by Ascaris lumbricoides (Al), Trichuris trichiura (Tt) and hookworms (Hook) in a rural community from the sugar-cane zone of Pernambuco, Brazil. Four parasitological surveys were carried out from March 2001 to March 2002. Individual diagnosis was based on eight slides (four by the Kato-Katz method and four by the Hoffman method) per survey. Infected subjects were assigned to two groups for treatment with either albendazole (n = 62) or mebendazole (n = 57). Prevalence of infection fell significantly (p < 0.05) one month after treatment: Al (from 47.7% to 6.6%); Tt (from 45.7% to 31.8%) and Hook (from 47.7% to 24.5%). One year after treatment, infections by Tt and Hook remained significantly below pre-control levels. A substantial decrease in single-infection cases and multiple infections was found. Egg-negative rate was significant for Al (94.0%), Hook (68.3%) but not for Tt (45.5%), and did not differ significantly between subjects treated with mebendazole or albendazole. Egg counts fell significantly in the individuals remaining positive for Tt. It is recommended that antihelminthic treatment should be selective and given at yearly intervals preferably with albendazole, due to its cost-effectiveness.

Replacing oxamniquine by praziquantel against Schistosoma mansoni infection in a rural community from the sugar-cane zone of Northeast Brazil: an epidemiological follow-up.

A group of 52 villagers was followed-up for three years regarding Schistosoma mansoni infection. All villagers were periodically surveyed by the Kato-Katz method. In March 1997 and March 1998 the positives were treated with oxamniquine (15-20 mg/kg), and in March 1999, with praziquantel (60 mg/kg). All infection indices decreased substantially between March 1999 and March 2000: prevalence of infection (from 32.7% to 21.2%), prevalence of moderate/heavy infection (from 7.7% to 1.9%), intensity of infection (from 23.1 epg to 7.4 epg) and reinfection (from 35.7% to 14.3%). Negativation increased from 53.8 to 82.4. An optimistic prognostic is assumed in the short term for the introduction of praziquantel in the study area.

Hypovitaminosis A in the sugarcane zone of southern Pernambuco State, Northeast Brazil

Hypovitaminosis A in the sugarcane zone of southern Pernambuco State, Northeast Brazil