Climate-smart characteristics of the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) agricultural technologies in Chad

This country brief evaluates the climate-smart characteristics of agricultural technologies promoted under the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) in Chad. The objective is to provide scientific evidence on the extent to which the promoted technologies contribute to Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and support resilient agri-food systems in the country. The study applied a structured evaluation framework based on 15 criteria aligned with the three CSA pillars: productivity, adaptation, and mitigation. The assessment relied on scientific literature, institutional and project documentation, expert judgment, and locally relevant reference conditions to determine the Climate Smart Index (CSI) of each technology. Technologies were evaluated independently, while recognizing that combined use in packages may generate stronger climate-smart outcomes. The results identified several best-bet CSA technologies with varied CSI levels. These include improved climate-resilient crop varieties such as maize, millet, sorghum, rice, cowpea, wheat, and groundnut; sustainable agri-inputs including compost and biopesticides; mechanization and post-harvest equipment such as ploughs, tractors, seed treatment units, and storage facilities; as well as climate-resilient practices including agroforestry, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), Climate-Smart Villages (CSV), irrigated perimeter development, and integrated farming systems. Agroforestry and CSV approaches demonstrated strong adaptation and mitigation potential by improving soil fertility, conserving moisture, supporting biodiversity, enhancing access to climate information, and reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based production systems. Overall, the findings indicate that combining improved climate-resilient varieties with sustainable land, water, and ecosystem management practices provides the strongest pathway for building agricultural resilience in Chad. These evidence-based insights are intended to guide farmers, extension agents, policymakers, development partners, and research institutions in prioritizing and scaling CSA technologies that strengthen resilience, improve food security, and promote sustainable agricultural production in Chad.