The Chad cotton industry is set for a major revival with a fresh injection of 22.5 million USD from France, aimed at revitalizing the sector and ensuring long-term stability.
As the second-largest cotton producer in Central Africa, behind only Cameroon, Chad has struggled with fluctuating production in recent years. To address this challenge, the Ministry of Production and Agricultural Industrialization launched the Chadian Cotton Basin Agricultural and Territorial Development Project (DEBACO) on May 13. With a total investment of 19.35 million EUR, this five-year initiative is fully funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
The DEBACO program represents a strategic shift in French agricultural support for Chad, adopting a holistic approach to rural development. While cotton remains the central focus, the project also extends to key food security crops such as sorghum, maize, cowpeas, and groundnuts.
« This project will enhance land-use planning, demarcate and secure livestock transit corridors, prevent conflicts, and establish local dialogue frameworks among stakeholders, » stated the Ministry of Agricultural Production. The interventions will primarily target the Mayo-Kebbi Ouest and Moyen-Chari regions, which together account for nearly a quarter of Chad’s annual cotton output, according to USDA data.
The French cooperation’s financial boost comes at a critical time, as Chad’s cotton production has experienced significant instability in recent years. Data from the cotton interprofessional group, compiled by the Regional Integrated Cotton Production Program in Africa (PR-PICA), highlights the sector’s volatility.
In the 2023-2024 campaign, cotton seed production surged by 9%, reaching 111,262 tons, only to plummet to 57,774 tons—a nearly 50% decline—in the following season. However, PR-PICA forecasts a 29.8% rebound for the 2025-2026 cycle, with production expected to hit 75,000 tons.
The success of DEBACO in reshaping Chad’s cotton industry over the next five years will be closely monitored, as stakeholders seek sustainable solutions to the sector’s persistent challenges.
