Cotton is one of the most significant cash crops in Chad’s Agriculture. It is also a central contributor to the country’s export revenues. Cotton has been one of the main agricultural activities undertaken in Chad. It affects more than 4 million people, especially the small farmers from the southern regions of the country.

Cotton contributes about 2% of the GDP and is Chad’s second most exported product. However, the Chadian cotton industry faces many challenges, such as market shocks and environmental problems like land degradation and water shortage.

Cotontchad Société Nouvelle is the most significant company. That oversees collecting, ginning, and exporting cotton from over 200,000 smallholder farmers. In recent years, efforts to improve Cotton have started yielding results. Since then, cotton production has increased from 17,500 metric tons in 2019 to over 145,000 in 2022.

However, as climate change advances and challenges farming conditions. There is an ever-increasing need for sustainable farming practices to secure the cotton industry’s future in Chad. The country is also working to increase the resistance of farming communities.

1. Climate change is the biggest issue affecting the growth of cotton farming in Chad. Chad is sensitive to changes in temperature. Also, recurrent droughts due to changes in climate patterns and reduced water accessibility have greatly affected cotton production, especially by smallholder farmers in the southern part of the country, where they use rainwater in their farming. 
2. Climate change has made things worse by reducing the water in Lake Chad, which is used for agricultural purposes. Hence, the little aid farmers had to support their crops has diminished.
3. This brings us to another monumental problem: environmental pollution. Long-term cultivation, over-farming, and poor management have resulted in a loss of soil yields. Thus, the yield in cotton fields is decreasing, making the land more vulnerable. This lowers cotton yields and has dire long-term consequences for farming in these regions.
4. The last concerns the limited use of modern farming equipment and the capital required to purchase it. Chad smallholder farmers are, in most cases, lack farming knowledge. They also lack equipment that would increase production. The lack of poor road network and storage facilities lower the chances of making good markets.

Various stakeholders have introduced climate-smart farming techniques in Chad’s cotton sector to address the severe impacts of climate change. One such project is a program to adopt the practice of agroforestry. The project involves growing trees alongside the cotton crop to replenish the soil, conserve water, and check soil erosion. These practices help protect vulnerable farmlands while improving productivity, even in drought-prone areas.

Other measures have also been aimed at increasing farmers’ knowledge of the new farming practices and technologies. Cotontchad and IDH are some programs offering education on improved irrigation method. The programs also discuss soil utilization and pest control. 

These initiatives have included setting up demonstration plots. They have shown significant yield improvements by adopting more sustainable methods. Additionally, the projects include training on  diversification for farmers. Growing food crops like sesame and groundnuts to supplement cotton income and ensure food security are also taught.

Moreover, financial inclusion programs have been established to support farmers. Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) provide essential financial services. Enabling farmers to invest in tools and resources needed to improve productivity

These solutions address immediate productivity challenges. They also aim to build long-term resilience in Chad’s cotton farming communities.

Implementing sustainable cotton farming in Chad involves a multi-step process to address environmental, economic, and social challenges. Each step incorporates specific strategies to improve farming practices and boost resilience. Here is an overview of the process:

• Training and Capacity Building: 

Farmers are trained in climate-smart agricultural practices, including agroforestry, irrigation techniques, and soil conservation. For example, Cotontchad and IDH have set up 204 demonstration plots. Where farmers are trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). This hands-on training has led to an average yield increase of 197%. It shows the effectiveness of proper education and resource access

• Agroforestry and Land Restoration: 

Farmers are encouraged to incorporate agroforestry techniques as part of the land restoration efforts by planting trees alongside their cotton crops. This helps to combat soil degradation and improve water retention in farming areas. The Logone Occidental and Lac provinces, the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance set up Living Labs. It shows how agroforestry can simultaneously restore degraded lands and increase cotton yields

• Crop Diversification: 

Farmers are encouraged to grow other crops to ensure food security and reduce reliance on cotton, such as sesame, groundnuts, and sorghum. In a pilot program, farmers adopted crop diversification. The program improved their household incomes and stabilized food supplies.

• Financial Support and Access to Resources:

A system to offer financial support to farmers is through Village Savings and Loan Associations. This system enables smallholders to invest in better tools and technologies. By 2023, the VSLA had been extended to hundreds of villages, benefiting farmers by allowing them to access necessary inputs.

This comprehensive approach ensures that sustainable farming techniques, which should be implemented at every level. Thus, both short-term yields and long-term resilience will improve.

Implementing sustainable farming practices has improved productivity and farmer livelihoods in Chad’s cotton sector. One of the most remarkable outcomes is the dramatic increase in cotton yields—Cotontchad and IDH—trained farmers saw a 197 percent increase in their yield. The improvement is mostly due to adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), improved irrigation techniques, and agroforestry.

Additionally, farmers’ income levels have risen substantially. Around 97% of the farmers involved in these programs saw an average income growth of 40%. The programs help them to reinvest in their farms and improve their living.

Crop diversification efforts have also played a key role in stabilizing food security. It has reduced the economic risks of relying solely on cotton. Farmers growing other crops, such as sesame and groundnuts, have reported more stable incomes and better food supplies.

Moreover, introducing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) has enhanced financial inclusion. It allows farmers access to the resources needed for sustainable farming more. 

These results prove that sustainable practices can simultaneously boost productivity. They improve the socio-economic well-being of Chad’s cotton farmers.

Sustainable farming in Chad’s cotton sector is a success story of the power of collaboration between local farmers, the government, and international organizations. Climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry effectively address climate change and land degradation challenges.

The road to a completely sustainable cotton industry is yet to be discovered. Droughts and desert spread make farming hard in most of the country. At the same time, the current efforts have proven promising. Efforts. like planting trees and using better water systems, help improve farming in certain areas. Technology, infrastructure, and education need more investment to scale these successes nationwide. 

In addition, deeper integration of financial support is required, such as the Village Savings and Loan Associations. Financial support will make these long-term efforts viable and ensure more farmers can participate. So, Chad has potential in agriculture with investors and authorities support.