Chad

A

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing

Cotton is Chad’s only important cash crop and accounts for around 50 per cent of all exports. Production in 1994 was about 45,000 tonnes of lint cotton and 54,000 tonnes of seed cotton. In 2005 Chad produced 233,000 tonnes of cotton. Millet, sugar cane, potatoes, rice, yams, beans, peanuts, cassava, and vegetables and fruit are grown for local consumption. Livestock is raised in the central region and in parts of the north. Livestock estimates in 2005 were about 6.5 million head of cattle, 2.6 million sheep, 5.8 million goats, 740,000 camels, 275,000 horses, and 5.2 million fowl. About one third of the land is used for grazing. Fish production from Lake Chad and the Chari and Logone rivers was estimated at 70,000 tonnes in 2004. The fishing industry produces fresh, dried, and smoked fish for domestic use and export, and forestry is important in the south.

B

Mining

Natron is the principal exploited mineral.

C

Manufacturing

The processing of cotton and cottonseed oil and the manufacturing of peanut oil and sugar are the main industries in Chad, with modern meat-packing plants operating in N’Djamena and Sarh. Most other factories produce basic consumer items such as beer, cigarettes, and soap.

D

Energy

A US-sponsored, 1,070-km (665-mi) pipeline was opened in late 2003 and is expected to transport around 250,000 barrels a day from Chad’s oilfields through Cameroon. The revenues will account for an estimated 50 per cent of Chad’s national budget. The yearly output of electricity in 2003 was about 120 million kWh.

E

Transport

Of a road network of some 33,400 km (20,754 mi), only about 0.8 per cent is surfaced. In 1996 there were 9,630 passenger cars, with a ratio of 265 people per car. Chad has no railways. The international airport at N’Djamena can accommodate large jets, and about 12 other airports accommodate smaller aircraft.