Chad stands as a key player in Central Africa’s cotton industry, trailing only Cameroon in production volumes. Yet recent years have seen erratic output, with the sector struggling to regain stability. In response, N’Djamena has launched an ambitious five-year initiative to breathe new life into the industry.

The Projet de Développement agricole et territorial du bassin cotonnier du Tchad (DEBACO), valued at €19.35 million (equivalent to $22.5 million), was officially inaugurated on May 13. Funding comes from the French Development Agency (AFD), marking a renewed commitment to Chad’s cotton value chain through a holistic rural development strategy.

While cotton remains the cornerstone of DEBACO, the program extends its reach to vital food crops including sorghum, maize, cowpea, and groundnuts, reinforcing national food security. The project’s blueprint includes sustainable land-use planning, demarcation and protection of livestock corridors, conflict prevention, and the establishment of local dialogue frameworks among stakeholders.

Implementation will focus on two critical regions: Mayo-Kebbi Ouest and Moyen-Chari, which together account for nearly a quarter of Chad’s annual cotton harvest, based on USDA assessments.

The French partnership arrives at a pivotal moment. Chad’s cotton production has been on a downward spiral, with output swinging dramatically. Official figures from the Programme régional de production intégrée du coton en Afrique (PR-PICA) show a 9% surge in seed cotton production during the 2023-2024 season, reaching 111,262 tonnes. However, the following year saw a sharp decline to 57,774 tonnes—a nearly 50% drop. Projections for 2025-2026 suggest a partial recovery to 75,000 tonnes, a 29.8% rebound.

Whether DEBACO’s interventions can steer the sector toward sustainable growth remains to be seen, but the initiative signals a renewed confidence in Chad’s agricultural future.