IDH and Cotontchad Société Nouvelle (Cotontchad) have kick-started the formation of public-private-civil sector partnerships to work towards improving the climate resilience of smallholder farmers in Southern Chad.
The partnership has been initiated with support from the government (Ministry of Agricultural Production and Processing, Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development), a research institution (L’Institut Tchadien de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement), agricultural extension services (l’Agence Nationale d’Appui au Développement Rural), private sector companies (Job Booster Chad Entreprise, Centre de Recherche d’Innovation et Production Technologique), and civil society organizations (World Vision Tchad, Better Cotton Initiative, Cellule de Liaison et d’Information des Associations Féminines). Farmers are represented through UNPCT, the Union Nationale des Producteurs Cotonnières du Tchad.
Sharing a common vision of sustainable, equitable, and socio-economic development of Chad’s Southern regions, the partners will work together to design and implement a regional development plan following IDH’s Production – Protection – Inclusion (PPI) landscape approach. This approach aims to create positive impacts for farmers and the environment through promoting and supporting sustainable production systems, inclusive land use planning and management, and the protection and regeneration of natural resources.
Mr. Pramit Chanda, Global Director – Textiles & Manufacturing, IDH said, “It is exciting to see the key stakeholders come together and collaborate to create production systems that support farmers’ resilience and are based on the responsible use of soil, water, and other natural resources. We hope this initiative will attract more investment in the Chad Climate Resilient Landscape and help to support smallholder farmer livelihoods from sustainable agriculture and value chain development.”
Given the significant role cotton production plays in the prosperity of the region, climate-resilient farming-based systems in cotton-growing regions are central to the vision shared by the partners.
Speaking about the Partnership, Mr. Fauba Padacke, Director of Social and Environmental Responsibility of Cotontchad said, “It is with great enthusiasm and hope that Cotontchad Société Nouvelle is participating in the launch of this platform for consultation and work with its partners. We are firmly convinced that this landscape approach is an essential tool for the harmonious economic and social development of the vast Sudanian zone of southern Chad, the potential of which remains largely undeveloped and is key to the well-being of the country’s entire population.
This initiative, respectful of other stakeholders, be they economic actors or organizations in charge of the preservation of our precious natural resources, is crucial for sustainable development which will bring prosperity to all. We look forward to working with all actors involved in this partnership and all those who would like to join it to move forward together in a constructive spirit.”
About the Core Partners
IDH
IDH puts people, planet, and progress at the heart of trade by leveraging the power of markets to create better jobs, better incomes, a better environment, and gender equity for all. To catalyze change at scale, IDH innovates, convenes, and invests in inclusive and sustainable solutions that enable businesses to create value for people and planet, while improving their own performance. In 14 years of operation, IDH has generated over 390 M in private sector investment and support for new business models that create better jobs, better incomes, a better environment, and gender equity for all.
Cotontchad Société Nouvelle
Cotontchad (CTSN) is Chad’s only aggregator and exporter of cotton. Formerly a state-run company, it was privatized in April 2018 with Olam Agri acquiring a majority stake with full management control in place by end of January 2019. CTSN is currently supporting close to 200,000 farmers with agri-inputs, financing, and price support to grow the crop from 17,500 tons of seed-cotton in 2019 to 146,000 tons in 2022. CTSN is committed to transform cotton fibre production to a more sustainable future, by mitigating climate change through adapting climate-resilient farming practices like conserving and regenerating the natural resource base. In the process it will bring prosperity to the cotton farming communities of Chad.