Post-harvest Handling of Sugarcane for high sugar recovery

Abstract

A well ripened harvested crop of sugarcane tends to lose its sugar within a few days after harvest, which increases further due to high ambient temperature, pre-harvest burning, harvest and transportation injuries and microbial infestation. In subtropical India, sucrose losses after the harvest of sugarcane and subsequent milling operation are some of the most serious problems in many sugar processing mills. Therefore, proper management of these canes is very important to improve sugar recovery and for obtaining better return to both farmers and millers.