During the past two days we travelled cross country to our
distribution centres through primarily agricultural areas. Although Harugeri,
Ugar, and Ramdurg are approximately 100 km. from Belgaum, time travelled cannot
be estimated by distance, as many of the roads are rugged and very narrow. Also
our tour bus was often slowed by road traffic including an abundance of trucks,
tractors, oxen carts, bicycles, motor bikes, pedestrians, as well as goat and
cattle herders.
This is the season for the sugar cane harvest, and many men
and women could be spotted in the fields laboriously cutting the stocks by
hand. Numerous trucks and tractors with their cabs garishly decorated hauled
the product to the factories. Oxen, with colourful horns, pulling carts were a
slower transportation method, Bicycles carried the green leaves ,and women
balanced piles of remnants on their heads-a valuable product for their cooking
fires. The residue from production is also utilized for fertilizer to replenish
the soil.
The main factory in Ugar which opened in 1939, has contributed to the
town’s significant expansion, and provides employment for many locals. During
the harvest season there is evidence of several itinerant workers as several encampments
were spotted.
We have been fortunate to view the country around Belgaum,
and appreciate the intensive labour practices utilized to harvest the crops,
and we recognize the contribution of the sugar cane industry to the local
economy .
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