A freshly burned field of sugar cane awaits the truck that will transport the golden cane to be processed at the Belize Sugar Industry plant in Orangewalk.

This sugarcane is harvested by hand. Hand harvesting accounts for more than half of production, and is dominant in the developing world. In hand harvesting, the field is first set on fire. The fire burns dry leaves, and kills any lurking venomous snakes, without harming the stalks and roots. Harvesters then cut the cane just above ground-level using cane knives or machetes

Billowing smoke clouds above such fields can be seen on a daily basis. . .