Chad government backs off-season crops amid drought
Minister Keda Ballah announced support for producers facing a disrupted agricultural season due to irregular rains.
Chad's government is supporting farmers with seeds, inputs, and solar boreholes to counter a disrupted agricultural season. Minister of Agricultural Production and Industrialization Keda Ballah presented these measures to the National Assembly on Monday, November 9, 2026. The initiative aims to reduce the country's reliance on rainfall for farming.
Ballah described the 2026-2027 agricultural campaign as challenging for Chadian producers due to late planting, inconsistent rain, and dry spells during critical growth periods. He attributed the poor distribution of rainfall, which affected pastures and food crops, to climate change. A multi-ministerial mission, including international partners, surveyed 11 affected provinces to assess the impact.
Following the assessment, short and medium-term actions will be implemented by relevant government departments. Ballah emphasized concrete, immediately available support over projections when addressing deputies' questions about aid. The government is focusing on securing necessary supplies and stocks for producers.
Why it mattersChadian farmers face crop losses and reduced pasture due to climate change-induced erratic rainfall, impacting their livelihoods.