Medine, one of the leaders in the Mauritian sugar industry, is currently renewing its fleet of sugar cane harvesters. The group has just acquired two new state-of-the-art machines. These investments mark a major turning point in the adoption of new technologies in its agricultural operations, further reinforcing its commitment to innovation and sustainable agricultural practices.
The group has invested over Rs 50 million in purchasing these two new harvesters and CASE tractors to enhance the efficiency of its agricultural operations. Equipped with a powerful engine, the Austoft 9000 series sugar cane harvesters can harvest Medine’s high-yield fields. They are equipped with the intelligent Smart Cruise engine, which minimizes fuel consumption and further simplifies their use.
The new harvesters offer numerous advantages, such as increased harvesting capacity, improved productivity, fuel savings, and overall better efficiency. They come equipped with three cameras, more powerful engines, an intelligent hydraulic system, and a range of other innovations that allow for greater harvesting capacity at reduced operating costs.
With these new machines, Medine expects fuel consumption savings of up to 26% and a 5% increase in harvesting capacity.
Furthermore, these harvesters are equipped with the Advanced Farming Systems (AFS®) automatic guidance system and an advanced telematics system, enabling 4G connectivity on the machine. Operators can connect to the AFS Connect telematics portal, which provides fleet monitoring, agronomic management, and data management tools. With a monitor inside the cabin, operators can track all phases of harvesting, maintenance, and access integrated precision farming functions. The system also issues alerts in case of anomalies or breakdowns.
With over 110 years of history, Medine was the first sugar group to invest in modernizing harvesting methods in the fields. This year, the group is investing over Rs 100 million in new technologies and smart agriculture, such as using drones to target herbicide applications and optimize resource utilization, such as water.
Medine has more than 3,300 hectares of sugar cane under cultivation, spread across different areas ranging from Chebel, Roche-Brunes, La Mecque, Bambous, Beaux-Songes, Cascavelle, Yemen, Palmyre, and Henrietta.