Chad Bans Grain Exports Amid Prolonged Drought and Food Shortages
The Chadian government has taken drastic measures to address the severe food shortages caused by a prolonged drought. The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Guibolo Fanga Mathieu, announced that millet, corn, rice, sorghum, wheat, and cotton seeds are banned from export starting September 9, 2026.
The ban aims to safeguard the domestic market supply, as these crops have been impacted by extreme heat and drought in various regions of the country. Certain products derived from these grains are also affected by the export ban, but sesame, peanuts, and fiber cotton remain exempt.
In a separate decree, the Minister of State for Finance, Tahir Hamid Nguilin, eliminated import duties and taxes on wheat, corn, millet, rice, certain flours and semolinas, livestock feed, and equipment intended for drilling, pumping, and agricultural production. This regulation took effect immediately upon signing.
The government is planning to support off-season crops in irrigated areas to mitigate the risk of food shortages. The central, eastern, and northern regions have been the hardest hit by the drought, according to the Minister of Agricultural Production and Industrialization, Keda Ballah.