About Barbados: History
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Sugar Cane (Saccharum)
The Sugar Cane plant is jointed with stalks and can grow up to (20ft). It is rich in sugar and is a member of the Perennial Grasses. Sugar cane is usually grown in warm or tropical regions
During the 1700s, the main source of revenue in Barbados was cotton and tobacco. As those industries started to fail because of the lack of labour, a decrease in prices and demand, competitors with better quality tobacco, as well as a new market for a cheap sweetener alternative, the sugar industry emerged.
Many of the plantations had grinding mills which were used to extract and process the cane juice. Sugar was then sent to Britain to be refined along with molasses and rum.
By the 1800's there were over (10) Sugar Factories throughout the island, the cane was harvested by hand and then loaded manually for transportation to factories. Barbados' sugar Industry has since become fully mechanical with the latest in technology.
By the 1900's Barbados' Sugar Industry was down to (2) sugar factories; Portvale Sugar Factory in St. James and Andrew's Sugar Factory in St. Joseph. The Industry's labour force deteriorated as the country became more developed and the population became more educated. Some persons considered it slave work others thought it was work for the uneducated.
As a result of the limited sugar factories, loading points had to be set up at 'Bulkeley's in St. George and Carrington in St. Philip, both closed factories.
In recent times Barbados' Government and all associated players in the industry have been discussing solutions to the problems and have decided to tap into other markets by using sugar cane to produce unique products rather than be limited to just sugar production.