Sugarcane farmers employ technology and machinery to compensate for the absence of manual laborers

Costa Maya sugarcane farmers are facing a labor shortage crisis as the Maya Train project attracts manual laborers away from the fields. Benjamín Gutiérrez Reyes, President of the National Confederation of Rural Producers, explains that the shortage of labor has forced farmers to modernize their processes, using drones for fumigation and machinery for harvesting.

Traditionally, around 1,800 laborers are hired to manually machete the cane and produce sugar, but the allure of the Maya Train has left farmers struggling to find seasonal help. Despite increasing wages, farmers have been unable to attract the necessary laborers, with many opting for the construction project over agricultural work.

Gutiérrez Reyes emphasizes the importance of meeting harvest deadlines, as many families depend on the sugarcane industry for their livelihoods. To address the labor shortage, farmers have turned to technology and machinery to carry out the harvest, which is estimated to be over 1.6 tons.

The shift towards mechanization represents a significant change for Costa Maya sugarcane producers, who have traditionally relied on manual labor for their operations. While the labor shortage poses challenges for the industry, farmers are determined to adapt and overcome the obstacles they face in order to ensure the success of this year’s harvest.