Economy of Chad
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Agriculture and fishing
Cotton is one of Chad’s important agricultural products. Although it is basically an export crop, the processing of raw cotton provides employment for a majority of those in industry and accounts for some of Chad’s export earnings. Most of the cotton fibre ginned in Chad’s processing plants is exported to Europe and the United States.
Chad’s livestock constitutes another important economic resource and is primarily distributed across central Chad. Much of this wealth is not reflected in the national cash economy, however, and livestock products form about one-tenth of exports. There is a refrigerated meat-processing plant at Sarh. The government has tried to improve livestock by introducing stronger breeds and production by building new slaughterhouses.
Rice is produced in the Chari valley and in southwestern Chad, and wheat is grown along the shores of Lake Chad; little of either crop is processed commercially.
About half the fish caught is salted and dried for export. Most fish are caught in the Lake Chad, Chari, and Logone basins.