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Scaling Up Sugarcane Production for One of Senegal’s Biggest Producers

​Growing More Cane in Tough Conditions

Looking to expand production capacity in a desert-like area with sandy soils and limited water, the Senegalese Sugar Company (CSS) turned to Netafim for a solution.
With deep agronomic expertise and proven experience in sugarcane cultivation, Netafim delivered a tailor-made precision irrigation system, carefully adapted to CSS’s climate, soil type, water availability, and workforce. Thanks to precision irrigation, CSS was able to manage vast areas cost-effectively, overcome difficult growing conditions, and boost productivity — sustainably.

Growing more cane every season through precision irrigation  

Subsurface drip irrigation goes beneath the soil to deliver water and nutrients straight to the root zone of each plant, boosting yields, elevating sucrose content by up to 2%, extending ratoon life, giving an average of 8 to 10 cuts, and lowering operational costs. Sugarcane yields with drip irrigation are up to 50% higher when compared to sprinkler systems or flood irrigation, and up to 200% higher than rain-fed plantations. When switching to drip irrigation, Sugarcane farmers also optimize resources, achieving 100% land utilization by drip irrigating the field uniformly, producing more cane per m3 water, minimizing labor costs, and optimizing fertilizer application.

Project Scope

 

Bulk water supply design

Irrigation system design

  Professional project management services
(on-site and remote)

Installation supervision and execution

Capacity Building and grower training

Agronomic planning and support

After-sales technical support and agro-techno support

Overcoming difficult growing conditions through smart solutions

The land available for expansion was far from ideal — arid, sandy, and with heavy clay content (40-60%). Conventional irrigation methods weren’t an option. As a result, the decision to go with drip irrigation became clear quite quickly. By automating the system, water management was facilitated in many large areas. Netafim's systems enabled CSS to expand its sugarcane cultivation in a cost-effective and sustainable way, despite challenging growing conditions.

Transformative Results

Through the revolutionizing irrigation systems and constant support provided by Netafim, CSS Senegal has been able to transform their farms and increase their productivity and yield significantly. Each hectare that was irrigated covered its cost quickly by generating high yields. Despite tough growing conditions, CSS saw yields of 150-160 ton/ha, extended ratoon life and a 2% increase in sucrose content. Payback on the investment was fast thanks to significant yield increases and reduction in inputs such as water, labor and fertilizer costs.

Transformative Results: Enhancing Growth and Yield