Chad ranks as Central Africa’s second-biggest cotton grower, but its production has seen sharp fluctuations in recent years. To counter this instability, N’Djamena has launched a bold initiative to revive the sector.

On May 13, the Ministry of Production and Agricultural Industrialization unveiled the Développement agricole et territorial du bassin cotonnier du Tchad (DEBACO), a five-year program costing €19.35 million ($22.5 million), fully funded by the French Development Agency. The project aims to modernize cotton farming while addressing broader rural challenges.

While cotton remains the program’s core focus, DEBACO also supports key food crops such as sorghum, maize, cowpeas, and groundnuts to strengthen food security. The initiative will introduce measures like land-use planning, mapping pastoral corridors, conflict prevention, and local stakeholder dialogue frameworks.

The project targets two key regions—Mayo-Kebbi Ouest and Moyen-Chari—which together account for nearly a quarter of Chad’s annual cotton output, according to USDA data.

Recent production trends highlight the sector’s volatility. Cotton seed output surged 9% in 2023-2024, reaching 111,262 tons, before plummeting 50% to 57,774 tons the following year. For 2025-2026, forecasts suggest a partial recovery to 75,000 tons—a 29.8% increase—but experts question whether this upward trend will last.

The DEBACO project’s success will depend on its ability to address structural issues, including erratic rainfall, limited access to inputs, and land disputes between farmers and herders. If implemented effectively, it could set the stage for long-term stability in Chad’s cotton industry.