Sugar Cane Harvest Season – Cane Cutters at Work in the fields

Announcing the Sugar Cane Harvest Season as from June, today the manual sugar cane cutting has nearly disappeared, and has been replaced by machines. At the time, those hard workers would strive to earn their living in those fields, though not being compensated for the merit, they must be thanked for the development of our once agricultural economy.

An activity prevailing since the colonial times by slaves, then Indian Immigrants, today Mauritius owes its recognition and development from the export of sugar which was once the pillar of the economy. With time this has been replaced by the textile industry but still it has made Mauritius what the country is today.

In the early days, these sugar canes, after being harvested were carried by ox-carts to the factories to be crushed and converted to raw sugar.

Ox-Cart carrying Sugar Cane during the Harvest Season (Courtesy: France Athow)

Ox-Cart carrying Sugar Cane during the Harvest season

Someone once said, we must not forget them for their hard work and now our well-being. When you drink from the river, you must also think of the source.

Shared by: Keeran Chhaganlall | Original Post