Chad’s cotton sector gets 22.5 million USD boost from France to revitalize industry
Chad, Africa’s second-largest cotton producer, secures a $22.5 million French funding package to stabilize and expand its cotton industry through an innovative five-year agricultural project.
Chad ranks as Central Africa’s second-largest cotton producer, trailing only Cameroon. Yet despite its potential, the sector has struggled with erratic output and persistent instability in recent years. Officials in N’Djamena are now pushing for a comprehensive revival.
On May 13, Chad’s Ministry of Production and Agricultural Industrialization inaugurated the Chadian Cotton Basin Agricultural and Territorial Development Project (DEBACO). With a total budget of €19.35 million (equivalent to $22.5 million), this five-year initiative is fully funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
The French Embassy in N’Djamena confirms that DEBACO represents a strategic shift in Paris’s support for Chad’s cotton industry. The program adopts a holistic approach to rural development, addressing not only cotton but also critical food crops such as sorghum, maize, cowpeas, and groundnuts—key staples for national food security.
According to the Ministry of Agricultural Production, DEBACO will enhance land-use planning, secure livestock corridors, mitigate conflict risks, and establish local dialogue platforms to foster cooperation among farmers, herders, and other stakeholders.
Priority zones for implementation include Mayo-Kebbi Ouest and Moyen-Chari—regions that together account for nearly a quarter of Chad’s annual cotton harvest, according to USDA data.
The timing of this French backing is crucial. Chad’s cotton output has swung dramatically in recent seasons, reflecting deep-seated instability. Data from the Interprofessional Cotton Association, compiled by the Regional Program for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa (PR-PICA), underscores the volatility of local supply.
Cottonseed production surged by 9% in 2023–2024, climbing to 111,262 tons, only to plummet by nearly half the following year, dropping to 57,774 tons. For the 2025–2026 season, PR-PICA forecasts a modest recovery of 29.8%, with output projected to reach 75,000 tons.
The big question remains: Will DEBACO’s interventions be enough to reverse these trends and set the cotton sector on a sustainable growth path over the coming years?
