A field visit to Zara Agro Chad in Douguia brought together the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Chad, Dr. François Batalingaya, alongside Mr. Francis James, UNDP Representative, and Mr. Aristide Ongone Obame, FAO Representative, to engage directly with local agricultural production and innovation.
Located around 80 km from N’Djamena, Zara Agro Chad reflects the kind of locally driven initiative that is helping shape a more resilient and productive rural economy. The visit focused on how existing efforts on the ground can be strengthened and scaled through the upcoming joint programme supported by the Joint SDG Fund.
Spanning approximately 500 hectares, with 100 hectares currently under cultivation, the farm produces cereals, legumes, and market garden crops for local and regional markets. Alongside production, the site is introducing new crop varieties, expanding fruit cultivation, and applying practices that improve soil health and resource efficiency.
What is taking shape goes beyond agriculture alone. It points to a broader model where food systems, climate resilience, and local economic development are closely linked. Recent attention from partners working on climate adaptation and finance has also reinforced the relevance of initiatives like Zara Agro Chad, where community-based approaches are already showing what locally led adaptation can look like in practice.
As Dr. François Batalingaya noted, “By combining our strengths with those of our local partners, we are making agriculture a true driver of inclusive and sustainable growth in Chad.”
That approach is especially important in a context where catalytic support can help strengthen what already exists and open the way for larger-scale investment. By building on local efforts and reducing early risk, the joint programme supported by the Joint SDG Fund is designed to help translate promising models into broader, longer-term impact.
Zara Agro Chad brings these elements together through an integrated approach that combines production with composting, irrigation systems, and forage development, while working with local cooperatives through input credit systems that improve access to seeds, fertilizers, and equipment. This creates opportunities for smallholders, women, and young entrepreneurs to participate more actively in local markets.
The visit also provided an opportunity to align priorities ahead of the joint programme launch. Building on what is already in place, the programme will further strengthen livestock systems, expand greenhouse production, support dairy processing, and promote local value chains and entrepreneurship, with the visit taking place on 10 March 2026.
Originally published on UN Chad.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds, and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
