WASHINGTON, April 25, 2024 - The World Bank has approved $150 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA)* to help Chad improve the resilience, competitiveness, and inclusiveness of agricultural value chains in several of its provinces.
The Chad Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (ProAGRI) will finance the institutional strengthening of key government agencies for effective agribusiness support, including the implementation of reforms to improve the business environment and build technical capacity. The project will support the construction, rehabilitation, and accreditation of climate-resilient infrastructure, including laboratories for quality control of improved seed varieties, as well as for sanitary and phytosanitary control of agricultural and agrifood products aimed at improving the competitiveness of agricultural products on the national and international markets. The project will strengthen the capacity of the private sector and of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, Mining and Handicrafts (CCIAMA) to promote and accelerate the establishment and growth of agribusinesses. It will also support the creation and capitalization of a National Seed Fund for more sustainable management of Chad’s seed sector. The dissemination and adoption of improved, climate-smart agricultural technology will strengthen agricultural advisory services.
In a bid to increase the marketing capacity of Chad’s agri-entrepreneurs and reduce on-farm purchases, ProAGRI will finance the construction/rehabilitation of marketing infrastructure, including sales counters and modern, climate-smart warehouses, which will help reduce post-harvest agricultural losses. The project will also finance the installation of an agribusiness market information system.
According to Clara de Sousa, World Bank Country Director for Chad, “The project will benefit both refugees and their host communities by reducing the future costs and scale of food aid distribution and improving local food security by boosting local agricultural production. Integrating host communities as economic agents in the development of agricultural value chains will reduce the burden on humanitarian agencies and ease potential friction between local and refugee populations over access to productive natural resources.”
“This project will maximize synergies with the World Bank’s portfolio in Chad, building on achievements in the dissemination of improved climate-resilient agricultural technology in the oilseed (sesame and groundnut), maize, and fish value chains. It will also support the poultry, mango, and dates value chains,” said Rasit Pertev, World Bank Country Manager for Chad.
ProAGRI is a proposed six-year investment project, and will benefit approximately 1,120,000 persons, 800,000 of whom (including 192,000 refugees and members of their host communities) will be direct beneficiaries. Direct beneficiaries include crop producers, fish farmers, fishers, poultry farmers, seed producers, agri-entrepreneurs, cooperatives, agricultural professional organizations, small and medium agribusinesses, and agro-industrial enterprises. Other direct beneficiaries include researchers, technicians, students, and staff of technical departments of government ministries and agencies involved in the implementation of project activities.
The World Bank Group plays a key role in the development and implementation of Chad’s agricultural development program. It works closely with the donors and technical partners in Chad to ensure that the respective commitments complement and reinforce each other.
*The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Established in 1960, it provides grants and low- to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to 1.6 billion people. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $21 billion over the past three years, with about 61% going to Africa.
