Chad exempts cereal imports from duties to bolster food security

CHAD – The Chadian government has announced the exemption of duties and taxes on imported cereals, effective immediately until December 31, 2025, a move aimed to stabilize food security.

The decision, enacted by a decree issued on February 5 by the Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economy, and Planning, takes immediate effect and targets essential foodstuffs such as wheat, maize, sorghum, millet, rice, cereal flours, and semolina.

Cereals form the backbone of Chad’s food supply and are a critical component of the nation’s food security strategy. However, local production has been severely affected by erratic weather patterns, including devastating floods in the second half of 2024.

According to a Harmonized Framework analysis from December 2024, these floods destroyed 432,000 hectares of cultivated farmland and wiped out 72,000 heads of livestock, exacerbating an already precarious food situation.

The government’s move to boost cereal imports comes as the country grapples with a worsening food security crisis. Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reveals that over 2.4 million people—14% of Chad’s population—are facing acute food insecurity as of December 2024.

This marks an increase of 400,000 people compared to the previous year. The situation is further strained by the influx of more than 1 million Sudanese refugees, who have placed additional pressure on Chad’s limited resources.

“This additional pressure is seriously affecting already vulnerable host communities,” OCHA stated in its latest humanitarian report, published on January 13.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that Chad’s cereal imports rose by 8% in 2024, reaching 236,000 tonnes. With local production expected to decline further due to unfavorable weather conditions, the government’s tax exemption initiative aims to reduce the cost of importing cereals, making them more accessible to the population.

The measure is also expected to stabilize prices on the domestic market, providing relief to millions of Chadians struggling with food shortages.

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