Cotontchad is convening a multi-stakeholder event in Chad to explore the potential for a Better Cotton Programme
21 November, N’Ddjamena/London – Cotontchad, the country’s only aggregator and exporter of cotton, Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative, and IDH, which seeks to transform markets through collaborative innovation, convening and investment, have today gathered key stakeholders from Chad’s cotton industry in the country’s capital, N’Djamena, to discuss the potential for the launch of a new Better Cotton Programme.
The multistakeholder event will include participants from national ministries, cotton farmer representatives, private sector actors and civil society organisations, and will promote dialogue on perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in sustainable agriculture in the cotton sector in Chad.
Cotontchad supports around 200,000 smallholder farmers across the country. Through financial aid and the allocation of resources, it has helped increase yields from 17,500 metric tons (MT) in 2019 to more than 145,000 MT in 2022.
Oliver Renson, Chief Executive Officer at Cotontchad, said: “We are committed to developing the sustainability credentials of Chadian cotton and are aligned with Better Cotton’s aims. This meeting will help establish next steps required to create the right enabling environment to continue to deliver for the country’s cotton farming communities.”
Pramit Chanda, Global Director Textiles and Manufacturing at IDH, said: “IDH is firmly committed to supporting the sustainable development of the cotton growing region of Chad. Supporting Cotontchad alongside Better Cotton will benefit close to 200,000 farmers, strengthening international market linkages. This will contribute directly to the broader regional development objectives of the Climate Resilient Cotton Landscape which we are convening in Chad.”
Alan McClay, Chief Executive Officer at Better Cotton, added: “Convenings like this are fundamental to the success of our operations. Not only do they help us forge and strengthen partnerships within the sector and beyond, they also help us learn from like-minded organisations that share our commitment to supporting cotton farming communities.”
ABOUT
Better Cotton
Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. Our mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. In challenging times, we are meeting the challenge head on. In the 2021-22 cotton season, through our network of field-level partners, 22% of global cotton production was Better Cotton, grown in 22 countries around the world. Our programmes reached 2.8 million farmers, which included more than 2.2 million Better Cotton licensed farmers. Over one fifth of the world’s cotton is now grown under the Better Cotton Standard. We have united the industry’s stakeholders behind our efforts, from ginners and spinners to brand owners, civil society organisations and governments, with over 2,500 companies in membership at the end of 2022. Everyone who cares about cotton and its sustainable future can now be part of something better.
IDH
IDH puts people, planet, and progress at the heart of trade by leveraging the power of markets to create better jobs, better incomes, a better environment, and gender equity for all. To catalyse change at scale, IDH innovates, convenes, and invests in inclusive and sustainable solutions that enable businesses to create value for people and planet, while improving their own performance. In 14 years of operation, IDH has generated over 390 M in private sector investment and support for new business models that create better jobs, better incomes, a better environment, and gender equity for all.
Cotontchad Societe Nouvelle
Cotontchad is Chad’s only aggregator and exporter of cotton. Formerly a state-run company, it was privatised in April 2018 with Olam Agri acquiring a majority stake with full management control in place by end of January 2019. Cotontchad is currently supporting close to 200,000 farmers with agricultural inputs, financing, and price support to grow the crop from 17,500 tons of seed-cotton in 2019 to 146,000 tons in 2022. Cotontchad is committed to transform cotton fibre production to a more sustainable future, by mitigating climate change through adapting climate resilient farming practices like conserving and regenerating the natural resource base. In the process it will bring prosperity to the cotton farming communities of Chad.
