Study of changes in practices carried out by growers aiming to reduce the use of inputs in sugarcane systems on “Réunion” island: case study of the east and west zones

Sugarcane is a historic crop from La Réunion island’s past and remains a major feature of the landscape today, contributing greatly to the island’s economy and employment.
The sugarcane sector has always been strongly supported by the public authorities, which have initiated numerous technical innovations in order to modernize the sector and its productivity (varietal innovation, irrigation, etc.). In response to issues of increased production costs, scarcity of labor and reduction in the spectrum of herbicides, there are currently changes in strategies within sugarcane farms either by putting forward innovative practices in link with the management of weeds or by modifying production systems by promoting the diversification of production.
This study has highlighted that diversification strategies are conditioned by the history of the farm, access to land, positioning in the landscape as well as the size of the farms.
Diversification is considered as a solution for maintaining the economic stability of these farms, specifically market gardening, because the return on investment of which is short and allows for additional income.
The players of the cane-sugar sector, taking into account the realities of the growers and their vision of the future of the sector, should consider these strategies.

XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Innovative Perennial Crops Management

I. Shili-Touzi, A. Ionescu, A. Launay, M. Vaillant, H. Jarousseau, C. Poser, D.J.E. Kalnin, J.-M. Paillat

diversification, agricultural exploitation (AE), agricultural exploitations (AEs), cropping system, strategies, market gardening

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1366.55