The liquid had been pressed out of the sugar cane, and the left over product was used to fuel the hot fire to make the panela. The man is pushing the left over product into a little opening under the floor of the factory to keep the fire going.
I have chosen the title "Hermona Patrona" because my husband has for many years affectionately called me La Patrona. In Spanish the word jefa means "she who is the boss". My husband, however, says that the word patrona refers to "she who commands". In other words, La Patrona is more powerful than La Jefa. Because we are serving on a mission, he now calls me "Hermana Patrona."