Chad turns to irrigation after below-average rains

The Chadian government announced on Monday 9 November 2026 a series of irrigation and seed supply measures to support producers hit by a 2026-2027 agricultural season marked by irregular rains, as set out by the minister of Agricultural Production and Industrialisation, Keda Ballah, before the National Assembly meeting under the chairmanship of MP Ali Kolotou Tchaïmi.

According to the minister, the poor distribution of rainfall over time and space affected pasture and the development of food crops, particularly at the flowering stage, a situation he attributes to climate disruption. A mission bringing together several ministers, technical officials and international partners travelled through eleven heavily affected provinces, led by the minister of state for Finance, and led to short- and medium-term actions whose implementation falls to the departments concerned.

For off-season crops, six tonnes of rice seeds are available, plus fifteen tonnes of vegetable seeds provided by the FAO for Barh El Gazel, Kanem, Batha and Ouaddaï, as well as 3,000 vegetable kits for these provinces. The minister also reported an order for 5,000 tonnes of seeds, mainly sorghum and maize, placed through the Pérensa project, an agricultural production support programme. "I prefer to say what is concrete rather than stay with projections," he said in response to MPs' questions on aid to producers. Solar boreholes and strengthened supervision are among the responses announced, with the aim of reducing Chadian agriculture's dependence on rain.

This disrupted season comes as Chad forecasts growth of 7.3% in 2027, according to the economic forecasts presented by the government.