Song Con Sugar Company supports farmers in harvesting sugarcane.

It is known that this yearSong Con Sugar CompanyThree modern sugarcane harvesting machines will be provided to support local people. The price for harvesting sugarcane is 170,000 VND/ton, much cheaper than hiring traditional labor. While the sugarcane harvesting machines are operating, trucks will run alongside to collect the harvested sugarcane. It is estimated that each machine will harvest 150 tons of sugarcane per day, equivalent to 10 full truckloads.

Song Con Sugar Company provides modern sugarcane harvesting machines to support people in Nam Dan. Photo: Quang An

The advantages of using the machine are that it shortens harvesting time and ensures timely delivery of raw materials to the sugar factory, within just 2-3 hours after harvesting. The machine cuts close to the base, preventing spillage and reducing losses by 20% compared to manual harvesting. Machine-harvested sugarcane forms uniform, neat segments.

However, for the furrows closest to the edge of the field, farmers have to harvest by hand because there isn't enough space for sugarcane harvesting machines and trucks to run side-by-side. The sugarcane bagasse after harvesting is left in the field, forming humus, which helps to make the soil more fertile for the next crop.

While the sugarcane harvester is operating, a truck runs alongside to collect the harvested sugarcane. Photo: QA

Reportedly, Nam Dan district has 30 hectares of sugarcane plantations concentrated in Trung Phuc Cuong commune. This is the second year that sugarcane has been successfully grown in this area, yielding over 80 tons per hectare. Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company plans to expand its sugarcane plantation area in this locality in the coming years.

Not only Song Con Sugar Company, but all sugar factories have good policies for sugarcane farmers this year.

Sugarcane harvested by machine is cut into uniform, attractive pieces, minimizing losses. Photo: Quang An

The factories' interest in the raw material supply area is motivating farmers to return to sugarcane cultivation amidst falling prices and low profitability for many other crops. Currently, sugar prices are favorable, paving the way for higher sugarcane purchase prices compared to previous years.

Locals are delighted that this year's sugarcane harvest is abundant and the prices are good. Photo: Quang An

Currently, Song Con Sugar Company's sugarcane plantation covers nearly 5,000 hectares, mainly concentrated in the districts of Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, Yen Thanh, and Do Luong. Annual sugarcane production reaches approximately 250,000 – 380,000 tons/year. The company aims to purchase 300,000 tons of sugarcane this season, yielding approximately 30,000 tons of sugar.

Currently, for the 2021-2022 crop year, NASU sugar factory is also providing loans to sugarcane farmers to purchase farming and harvesting machinery and install various irrigation systems. Specifically: Farmers can borrow 70 million VND to purchase sugarcane cultivation machinery, 85 million VND to purchase large double-row sugarcane planting machinery, 6 million VND to purchase pesticide spraying machinery, and 30 million VND to install irrigation systems. In addition, the factory also provides services such as land preparation, sugarcane planting, mechanical fertilization, weeding between rows, and herbicide spraying using NASU machinery. NASU's services are interest-free, and the interest rate on loans for purchasing machinery is low. Furthermore, farmers also receive government support when borrowing for investment.

BesidesNASUNASU also established first and second-level seed breeding fields and provided loans for transporting sugarcane seedlings at a rate of 2 million VND/ha. Support of 4 million VND/ha was provided for 10 hectares. Loans were also provided for purchasing seedlings from farmers' first-level seed breeding fields, and support for planting new sugarcane seed breeding fields was provided at a rate of 15 million VND/ha, including a non-refundable grant of 4 million VND/ha, applicable to 30 hectares… In addition, there were support policies for group leaders and sugarcane planting steering committees in communes and districts…