Revitalizing the sugar sector: modeling an artisanal, economical and resilient sugar production unit from the processing of sugar cane “Saccharum Officinarum” in the Mandritsara district.

Sciences et Technologie

As part of the 1st Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has set a target of zero new poverty worldwide by 2030. Various international or national entities/organizations involved in several development sectors around the world are taking this date into account. Madagascar is no exception. The aim of this research project is to revitalize the artisanal sugar sector in the Mandritsara district, and to develop a model for an efficient sugar production unit that is resilient to climate change and appropriate to the local economic development context. Apart from growing food crops, 80% of the population in the Mandritsara district's main activity is growing sugar cane for sugar production. In 2006, according to the Centre Malgache de la Canne et du Sucre (CMCS), the sugar industry employed 4,800 permanent staff, representing a direct workforce of around 15,000 people, including seasonal workers. The sugar industry as a whole directly and indirectly employs 70,000 people. The majority of the population farm a maximum area of 1 ha, with a crop yield of 60 t/ha. Sugar production technology is archaic, using traditional equipment and firewood as cooking fuel. The yield by mass is 4.47 t of sugar for 60 t of sugar cane, corresponding to a low production rate of 7.45%, considered very low compared with 10% for Brazilian and Latin American artisans. Wood consumption for sugar production is 57 t per ha, which has an impact on forest resources and, of course, on the environment and biodiversity. In the face of climatic hazards (drought, pest infestation, low rainfall) and the use of traditional techniques, crop yields have fallen, reducing not only sugar production but also the artisans' sources of income. This research project aims to improve the sugar production chain in the Mandritsara district, from planting to harvesting, juice extraction, cooking, filtration and crystallization, with a view to minimizing processing losses. A profitable, economically viable and resilient artisanal production unit model will be highlighted. The adoption of this model by artisan sugar producers in the Mandritsara district has enabled them, firstly, to increase their crop yield from 60 t/ha to 70 t/ha, thanks to the simultaneous use of organic manure (zebu dung) from their livestock, the supply of water by drilling for their crop in the dry season, and the replacement of cooking, cane juice extraction, filtration and crystallization equipment. The replacement of this equipment prevented losses in processing, which in turn led to an increase in sugar yield from 7.45% to 11%; secondly, the consumption of wood for cooking was reduced by 51.1% by replacing part of the firewood with bagasse, i.e. instead of 57 t of wood for 60 t of cane initially, only 29.12 t of wood were used. A forest area of 0.398 ha was preserved in this way. This means an increase in annual sugar production of 3.23 t/year. To find a profitable and viable economic model, three scenarios were proposed: The first scenario is profitable but not viable. The second scenario, corresponding respectively to the extension of the sugarcane cultivation area by 2 ha, the use of organic manure and mineral fertilizers, the use of water by low-cost manual drilling, and the replacement of various equipment (cooking, extraction, filtration, crystallization), is not profitable even if we doubled the selling price of sugar from 4,000 MGA to 8,000 MGA. The third scenario is the same as the second, but the area farmed is 3 ha. This 3rd scenario is only profitable at 8,000 MGA per kg of sugar sales, i.e. double the current price per kilogram.

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