Sugar cane plantation

1. Production of sugar cane in Richard-Toll

The production of sugar cane in the sugar complex of Richard Toll began in 1970. The farming area covers an area of more than 13,000 ha.

The sown cane area represents 7,700 ha gravity irrigation cane and 3,000 ha drip irrigation.

Drip irrigation is localized on sandy soils of the estate while gravity irrigation is practiced on clayey soils.

Agricultural farms ensure the overall running of crop operations, weed control, fertilization, irrigation and drainage.

 

2. Development of agricultural land and maintenance of hydro-agricultural infrastructure

Every year, more than 2,000 ha of land are ploughed and cultivated.
The different operations include:

  • land preparation (ploughing)
  • Construction and rehabilitation of lateritic tracks
  • Cleaning of irrigation canals and drains
  • Construction of rural engineering works
  • Manufacture of slide and rack valves
  • Topographic surveys and measurements
  • Production of topographic maps and project plans

Mastery of precision technologies such as laser leveling and GPS self-guiding machines.

3. Farm Management

CSS Farming Activities:

  • Plots Planting
  • Crop maintenance
  • Harvesting and transport of sugar cane

The harvesting of sugar cane at the CSS is either manual (48%) or mechanical (52%) and is done in the period from November to May. The manual cutting and planting of the cane are carried out by seasonal workers.

Farm mechanization is carried out on all CSS cane plots. It involves the various spreading operations (scum, compost, lime, ash, vinasse, fertiliser), scratching, reprofiling, sheath installation, mechanized overlaying of the cane.

 

4. Agricultural Research

Agronomic Research intervenes on various themes:

  • development of more productive varieties through genetic improvement,
  • Science and soil fertility,
  • mineral nutrition of cane,
  • crop defense and plant science,
  • study and knowledge of the environment,
  • agricultural statistics.

The department is equipped with a new modern laboratory which aims at positioning itself as a benhcmark to support agricultural development in Senegal and the sub-region.

The CSS agricultural domain welcomes students and trainees from various universities and training institutions throughout Senegal.

5. Extension projects

  1. Development of lands affected by soil salinity by leaching
  2. Improvement of gravity irrigation management by the use of flexible hose (Polynet)
  3. Valorization of cane by-products by setting up a composting unit

Drip Irrigation

    • 16,000 m3/h of pumping capacity on the Taouey
    • 1 tank of 110,000 m3 fed by 2 GRP (fiberglass-reinforced polyster) of 1,100 mm
    • 1 tank of 40,000 m3  fed by 2 GRP of 800 mm
    • 12 irrigation stations with 48 pumps
    • Automation of irrigation and fertigation

    Gravity Irrigation

    • Three (03) pumping stations
    • 10 drain stations
    • 07 source water reservoirs
    • More than 500 km of irrigation canals
    • More than 400 km of open-pit drainage system

    New Agricultural Practices

    • Generalization of double row technic in drip irrigation
    • Management of the vehicle fleet by GPS tracking
    • Development of gravity irrigation by flexible hose (Polynet)
    • Chemical maturation and flowering inhibitor
    • Precision Agriculture: Composting, Digital Science, Green Cutting