Tchad stands as the second-largest cotton producer in Central Africa, trailing only Cameroon. Yet, despite its potential, the sector has faced persistent instability in recent years, prompting authorities to seek fresh momentum for growth.

On May 13, Chad’s Ministry of Production and Agricultural Industrialization unveiled the Projet de Développement agricole et territorial du bassin cotonnier du Tchad (DEBACO). With a total budget of €19.35 million (US$22.5 million), this five-year initiative is fully funded by the Agence française de développement (AFD). The program represents a strategic shift in French cooperation, adopting a more holistic approach to rural development centered on the cotton industry.

While cotton remains the primary focus, DEBACO also extends support to key food crops critical for national food security—including sorghum, maize, cowpea, and groundnut. The project’s blueprint targets land-use planning, demarcation and protection of transhumance corridors, conflict prevention, and the establishment of local dialogue platforms among stakeholders.

Implementation will concentrate on two key provinces: Mayo-Kebbi Ouest and Moyen-Chari, which together account for nearly a quarter of the country’s annual cotton output, according to USDA estimates.

The timing of this French-backed initiative is crucial. Chad’s cotton production has swung dramatically in recent years, following a downward trend. Official figures from the interprofessional sector, as tracked by the Programme régional de production intégrée du coton en Afrique (PR-PICA), reveal stark volatility in supply.

Cotton seed production surged by 9% in 2023–2024, reaching 111,262 metric tons, only to plummet by nearly half the following season to 57,774 metric tons. Projections for the 2025–2026 harvest, however, indicate a rebound of 29.8%, with output expected to climb to 75,000 metric tons.

Whether DEBACO’s interventions can sustainably reverse these fluctuations and secure long-term stability for Chad’s cotton sector remains to be seen.