Sugarcane harvesting
Learnt something new from our local friend Jorge. We were driving thru dirt roads into the countryside where we saw cantaloupe farming. First time in my life. But the more interesting part was how they were harvesting their sugarcane.
The simply set the fields on fire!!! Evidently the leaves of sugarcane are very sharp. Making it difficult to harvest by hand. And sugarcane fields have a lot of rats. Which invariably brings a lot of snakes. So, they just go ahead and set their sugarcane fields on fire!
What I did not know is that while everything else gets burnt, the sugarcane bark is thick enough that nothing happens to the sugarcane itself!!!
But now the sugarcane has to be transported and processed within 24 hours. The sugarcane is unharmed but very warm which will set in motion the fermentation process soon.
So, I asked Jorge “what happens if the farmer gets delayed, for whatever reason”
Jorge: “Oh! They make alcohol”
That was a simple solution!!! 🙂
I am quite sure in India though, I have seen farmers harvesting sugarcane with sharp sickles in their hands. I think Costa Rican farmers are too lazy 🙂
Pretty sure the snakes and rats both go somewhere when u set the fire… Hopefully away from u 🙂
That’s an interesting story!
Yikes! Does it mean that the rats and snakes are burnt alive? I hate both rats and snakes but the thought of them being roasted alive is not sitting well with me 🙁
Recall seeing the burning process in India too.
the same thing is being adapted in india also….specially in maharashtra
but it adds to the pollution level
brilliant!
Same principle in India too! I remember it having soot all over, that we’d have to wash or scrub before eating or we’d get it all over out faces.
I’ve seen burning sugar cane fields in Punjab. Didn’t realize this was the purpose.
I looks like you all had a trip to remember.