Analysis of the Current Situation of the Sugar Cane Processing Industry in Santander

Abstract

Panela is a natural food product characterized by its high sweetening power and its nutritional value. Although the national federation of paneleros (Fedepanela) has been training producers in the department of Santander (Colombia) in the adoption of new technologies to improve the productivity and marketing of panela, the transformation of sugar cane juice into Panela is mainly carried out in sugar mills in an artisanal way, which constitutes a permanent source of employment for peasant families. The initiative of this research is to be able to identify what are the problems that this agro-industrial sector presents and from this information later to be able to establish some possible solutions. This research was based on a descriptive qualitative methodology using a research survey which yielded results that were grouped by provinces (Comunera, García Rovira, Guanentina and Vélez). Data was also obtained on the average age between 20 and 30 years (36.7%) of the producers and their primary (24.1%) and secondary (24.1%) educational level, 43.7% do not have any type of assistance. technique and the production of 60% of the farmers is between 10,000 and 15,000 kg for every 17 months and one of the great shortcomings is not having soil analysis that helps determine the optimal use of fertilizers. Due to the different problems that are found in the sector, producers sell panela in marketplaces where the price is established by an intermediary who takes advantage of the situation to buy at the price they consider.