(Ecofin Agency) - Will Chad soon experience agricultural revolution? This is what suggest the words of President Deby during the launching of the 2016-17 agricultural season. The president who said he would dedicate his new five-year term to the development of rural areas, emphasized on the importance of agriculture toward the country’s emergence.

“Oil is poverty. To achieve true development, agriculture and husbandry and the keys. Let’s not lie to ourselves, if we want Chad to emerge, we must rely on these two. Our emergence cannot come from oil or any other mineral resources,” he told Goz Béida.

Let’s highlight that Mr Deby’s speech comes in a context where a global fall in prices of oil is affecting African economies that are highly-dependent on the commodity.

With a herd of 94 million heads and 39 million hectares of arable land, Chad has the means to achieve its target. “However, we must turn this herd into a productive one in order to boost the economy,” said Idriss Deby.

Observers are impatient to see if actions will follow the words spoken by the president who, next August, will start a new term.

Aaron Akinocho