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International experiences with mechanized sugar cane harvesting are summarized. Patterns of levels reached in mechanized harvesting in Cuba, Louisiana (USA) and Australia are considered. No international pattern was detected, except in very broad terms in the direction of complete mechanization; but there are some common characteristics; e.g. the technical competence of the manufacturers for finding solutions that can overcome the natural climatic and soil limitations to achieve greater efficiency. It is concluded that an analysis of technological change represented by mechanized harvesting of sugar cane should take into account, with equal emphasis, a macro-economic perspective, the overall conditions of the economy, and the conditions that have impact on the development and diffusion of technology per se. In Informacoes Economicas Instituto de Economia Agricola (Brazil), v. 28(7) p. 11-21
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