The productivity of the sugarcane agroindustrial sector has shown a recovery in relation to the years preceding 2013, which offsets the effects of the lower price of sugar and the exchange rate in force in recent years.
The productivity of the sugarcane agroindustrial sector has shown a recovery in relation to the years preceding 2013, which offsets the effects of the lower price of sugar and the exchange rate in force in recent years.
The recovery of productivity is not only the result of a more benign climate, but of the integral management of controllable factors by sugar mills and growers, in which Cenicaña has made important contributions. Today the sector has better information on soils and the impact of the climate by agro-ecological zones and has new varieties and technical tools to manage the cultivation and processing of sugarcane in factories. Similarly, there is a higher level of knowledge and training in technicians, sugarcane growers and operational personnel in the field.
This leads us to reflect on the importance of continuing to implement actions, to be increasingly efficient in managing controllable factors. Not doing it is missing an opportunity. In such a way that if the climate is adverse, there will be a greater capacity to face its effects; And if the climate is right, there will be even greater benefits.
The topics included in this edition contribute in that sense. I will briefly mention two of them: training and how to prepare for the El Niño phenomenon. Regarding the first, the actions are concentrated in the Learning and Technical Assistance Program, PAT, in which the professionals of the mills trained as facilitators radiate knowledge and carry out the respective support to technicians and growers. A trained sector has greater decision-making elements to adopt technology, produce more at a lower cost and contribute to sustainability.
Regarding the El Niño phenomenon, Cenicaña has been disseminating information on the probability of its occurrence and recommendations for efficient management of irrigation and other cultivation tasks under conditions of water deficit.
The historical record indicates that if El Niño phenomena occur after a period of at least 8 or 10 months of relative normality in the distribution and intensity of rainfall, the effects on production could be positive, as long as the crop has water availability in periods of rapid growth.
In this sense, in the semi-dry environment the demand for water will be greater, so priority should be given to leveling the fields, maintaining wells, reducing losses due to water conduction, and administrative control of irrigation. , the use of the water balance and the implementation of new technologies such as irrigation by reduced flow.
The comprehensive use of these tools and training will undoubtedly contribute to meeting the challenges that the climate imposes today.
Álvaro Amaya Estevez
CEO, Cenicaña
