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Agriculture under threat

Climate change poses a serious and immediate threat to agricultural production and food security in Chad, with the potential to exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crises affecting the country.

Chad’s dry northern regions are facing desertification, with droughts expanding at the alarming rate of 3 kilometres per year. In the south, rainfall is increasingly variable, and meteorological observations here point towards a concerning reduction in precipitations in recent years. Meanwhile, extreme weather phenomena such as drought, floods and heat waves are expected to increase.

These factors, and the use of unsustainable agricultural practices, are leading to reduced land cover, deforestation, and lower cereal crops yields, threatening livelihoods and ecosystems.

The initiative 

In 2019, FAO, working with the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Fisheries, and the National Agency of the Great Green Wall, carried out a set of actions to support Chad’s climate change adaptation and mitigation capacity, specifically within the context of the implementation of the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement requires countries to prepare, communicate and update the NDCs which it intends to achieve.

In order to strengthen climate resilience and institutional capacity in planning and implementing NDCs, efforts focussed on three areas: the identification of best agricultural practices to boost sustainable food production in the country, especially among vulnerable farming communities; raising climate change awareness among key stakeholders; building capacity at national level.

FAO in action

Enhancing production, safeguarding resources

Common concerns among agropastoral communities in Chad are land degradation and the reduction of yields, both of which pose significant threats to livelihoods and can fuel tensions between farmers and herders over dwindling and increasingly degraded natural resources. 

A study seeking to identify best practices to spur ecosystem restoration and sustainable production was carried out. The study produced a range of options, including: mechanical recovery systems for degraded land; assisted natural regeneration; the use of climate-resistant and adapted seeds; and the use of compost and organic manure to enhance soil health. A facilitation guide on the application of the practices was also produced.

Raising awareness to boost resilience 

Awareness and understanding of the threat climate change poses to agriculture – and, crucially, to those whose livelihoods depend upon it – are the first step towards effective resilience and adaptation to climate change action.

Two awareness-raising workshops, organized by the Great Green Wall and FAO, and bringing together local authorities, producers, the private sector and development partners were held. Participants learned about the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, the key role of countries in tackling climate change through NDCs, and how non-state actors can and must contribute.

The workshops enabled participants to gather potential contributions by non-state actors to the coming NDC cycles; to identify a selection of good practices related to climate change adaptation and mitigation; and make recommendations to the government and other partners.

Building institutional capacity

While local-level engagement is key in addressing the threat of climate change, adequate national capacity is essential in ensuring progress.

A national-level workshop was organised in N'Djamena to train governmental and non-state stakeholders on identifying and prioritizing options for mitigating the effects of climate change; analysing greenhouse gas emission sources; and proposed agricultural practices designed to sustainably increase production, improve carbon sequestration, and strengthen communities’ resilience to climate shocks. These approaches include Agroecology, Climate-Smart Agriculture and other sustainable agrosilvopastoral management systems.

The workshop, organised by FAO, the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Fisheries, in collaboration with the National Agency of the Great Green Wall, brought together sixty participants including ministerial staff, producers, academia and youth and women’s associations.

Driving progress

As per other MDF initiatives, the work carried out in Chad combined expertise from FAO and its country partners to empower institutions and communities.

Through its awareness-raising actions, good practice research and the national-level capacity building workshop, this initiative has contributed to strengthening Chad’s ability to address the challenges posed by climate change.