Part 3/8:
Once seedlings are prepared, farmers must then focus on soil preparation, as sugar cane, being a grass, can regenerate as a ratoon crop. Soil is plowed multiple times, leveled, and enriched with organic manures to ensure optimal growth conditions. With proper pH and temperature conditions, sugar cane germinates within a month. Farmers then manage weeds with herbicides and pests with insecticides, while providing fertilizers throughout the growth cycle, all while maintaining adequate irrigation. The entire growing timeline from planting to harvest typically spans 8 to 18 months.