Monday, December 16, 2013

SUGARCANE MECHANISATION FOR PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

By  C. NORRIS(1), P. LYNE(2) and K. CHOONHAWONG(3)
1 Booker Tate Ltd, Masters Court, Church Rd, Thame, Oxon OX93FA UK.
2 SASRI, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa
3 Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Chris.Norris@Booker-Tate.co.uk

Abstract
THE PAPER summarises the findings compiled from contributions of the committee members
and from the proceedings of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT)
Agricultural Engineering Section Workshop held between 3rd and 5th of March 2009 at The
University Centre, Kamphaeng Saen Campus atNakhon Pathom of the Kaestart University,
Thailand.
The opening addresses gave an excellent overview of the Thailand industry, which
globally is the second largest exporter of sugar,and has over 80% of its farms of less than
20 ha in size.
The industry is in a stage of rapid development, with appropriate mechanisation for
small growers being a significant issue.
The demand for by-products such as ethanol are significant catalysts for the growth
of the industry.
The presentations were grouped under the general headings of Machinery and
Mechanisation and Management and Logistics, with a focus on mechanisation associated
with smaller operations.
The field visits associated with the workshop focused on the very significant
development which is occurring in appropriatemechanisation for small and medium size
growers, as well as the integration of rotation crops with sugarcane and irrigation systems
used.
In the workshopping sessions, a wide range of issues were discussed, ranging from
Crop Production to the Environment. Miller–Grower ‘Politics’ and Health & Safety issues
were also seen as issues which could be addressed, with discussion on the potential of ISSCT
sanctioning various training courses. Overall, the most significant issue seen to be facing the
industry was logistics and cost of cane transport from the field to the mill.
Thailand represented an excellent venue for the workshop, because of its rapid
growth and the market driven development of appropriate mechanisation for small growers.


KEYWORDS: Sugarcane, Mechanisation,
Green Cane Harvesting, Small Growers, Sustainability.
www.issct.org

Agricultural Engineering Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 27, 2010 
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