Adequate Harvesting Technology for Small- and Medium-Scale Sugarcane Farmers in Rio de Janeiro: The “Cologne Solution”

Abstract

Ten million hectares of sugarcane make Brazil the largest global producing country. By the year 2024, legislation will ban the burning of dry leaves before manual harvest. Solutions like the self-propelled harvester technology are available. Nevertheless, since these solutions require high investments and large cropping fields for economically feasible operational costs, they are more favorable and widely adapted for large-scale producers. However, small- and medium-scale producers are under increasing pressure to adapt and remain competitive as the Brazilian market for agricultural engines does not offer adequate harvesting technologies. The average sugarcane farm size in Rio de Janeiro state is approximately 11 ha, with a low average yield when compared to the average yield of the country. The conditions to be considered for the implementation of innovative harvesting technology, so far developed up to a classified test-bench status, involve all technical, economic, and site-specific requirements. This research defined the adequate conditions for a harvesting technology based on the sugarcane cycle analysis.