© Marie Claude Leclerc
Zafra is a kind of sugar cane that is the main grain crop in the country. Therefore, its harvest is a time for a country-wide celebration.
Zafra has become internationally known in 1960s, as there were special harvest campaigns organized to help the country gather the crop. However, it was rather a political than economic measure. For the time of the harvest, the schools were closed so that children could contribute to the harvest time. Even people who lived in cities were often taken to the countryside to help gather zafra.
Back in the past zafra was gathered by hand. However, these days the locals use special motor equipment that simplifies the process significantly.
