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How are sugarcane stalks transported from fields to factories?
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Sugarcane
Field of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in St. George Parish, Barbados.
Sugarcane stalks are transported from fields to factories using a variety of methods, ranging from manual haulage to the use of oxcarts, trucks, railway cars, or barges. In many modern operations, mechanical harvesters cut the stalks and deliver them into bin trailers, which are then transported to the mill by tractors or light railway wagons.12
The typical economic distance for this transport is 25 km (15 miles). It is essential to minimize the time between harvesting and processing to prevent cane deterioration, which helps ensure a higher sugar yield. Upon arrival at the factory, the cane is weighed and sampled before being moved to the mill yard for processing.1