Surviving on 2,000 francs per day—that’s the harsh reality for countless households in Chad. For a family of five or six, this translates to roughly 375 francs per person. What does this mean in a typical Chadian kitchen? Priorities shift drastically: proteins vanish first, followed by vegetables. Survival takes precedence over nutrition, leaving families—especially children—grappling with severe dietary deficiencies.
When Survival Becomes the Only Option
The sociologist Remadji Ngaba paints a grim picture: «Today, Chad is reeling under the weight of soaring living costs. The household basket is nearly empty.» He emphasizes the psychological resilience Chad’s citizens have cultivated—without it, the strain would be unbearable. «Survival is not just about food; it’s a mindset,» he states.
Women Bear the Brunt of the Crisis
Who feels the pinch of these skyrocketing prices most acutely? According to Ngaba, it’s women. «She is the backbone of the household. When economic pressures mount, she faces the consequences first—and when she struggles, the entire family does too.» Fathers witness this daily as wives return from markets, recounting the relentless price hikes. What may seem like exaggeration is, in fact, a reflection of a harsh truth: markets have become battlegrounds where survival is negotiated each day.
The government’s sporadic price controls offer little solace, Ngaba argues. «Interventions come and go, but prices always revert to their original state. Nothing changes,» he laments.
Land Abundance, Yet Hunger Persists
Chad boasts over 33 million hectares of arable land across its 1.28 million square kilometers. Yet, hunger remains a persistent foe. The burden of high living costs is heaviest in urban centers, where every necessity comes with a price tag. But rural communities aren’t spared. Farmers and livestock herders face relentless threats: crop destruction by wandering cattle, lack of legal recourse, and dwindling resources. Under such pressures, many abandon the countryside. «We cannot all live in N’Djamena,» Ngaba warns. «It’s not safe, and it’s not sustainable.»
Clashes between farmers and herders further cripple local production, which could otherwise help stabilize urban market prices. «Both groups need protection,» he asserts. «Their struggles are interconnected, and resolving them is key to reducing costs for all.»
The Stagnant Minimum Wage: A Growing Chasm
Another stark reality is Chad’s minimum wage—a stagnant 60,000 francs CFA since 2011. Meanwhile, living expenses have doubled. In N’Djamena, even a modest room costs between 20,000 and 25,000 francs, with rent, utilities, and other charges consuming most of a worker’s salary.
A Call for Action: Pragmatic Solutions
Ngaba doesn’t just diagnose the problem—he proposes solutions. He advocates for subsidized agricultural projects to bolster local food production. He also stresses the importance of water resource management, as drought and erratic rainfall exacerbate food insecurity. Most critically, he urges a systematic, transparent monitoring of market prices to curb exploitation and ensure fair pricing.
«Our leaders are not blind to this suffering,» he says. «They travel, they see how other nations manage such crises. The question is: will they do enough to ease the daily struggles of their people?»
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