The Algerian government recently published impressive figures that reveal the scale of agricultural production in the country. Despite the challenges associated with the 2022-2023 agricultural season, the agricultural sector recorded positive results, demonstrating its crucial role in the national economy and in ensuring food security.
A Growing Agriculture
The government’s general policy for the year 2023, presented by Prime Minister Ayman Ben Abderrahmane, highlighted the notable development of the agricultural sector in Algeria. This development is the result of careful planning, the organization of production structures, the 2030/2025 development plan and a new vision for the sector.
Despite the difficulties of the 2022-2023 agricultural season, the indicators are positive at all levels, confirming the strategic importance of agriculture.
Record Cereal Harvest
Cereal production reached a record level of 30 million quintals. In the southern wilayas, average production varies from 50 to 60 quintals per hectare, with a remarkable peak of 85 quintals per hectare. This success can be explained in part by supplementary irrigation, which made it possible to secure 13% of cereal-growing lands in the north despite the period of drought.
Increase in Vegetable Production
Vegetable production increased by 3% to 5% for essential products, such as onions and potatoes. This growth made it possible to satisfy all of the domestic market’s needs for vegetables and fruits, with the exception of tropical fruits, thus reducing dependence on imports. In 2023, total vegetable production reached 156 million quintals, including more than 42 million quintals of potatoes.
Advances in the Cultivation of Specific Varieties
Drought-resistant seed varieties saw an increase of over 7%, reaching 17.3 million quintals. In the palm growing sector, date production increased by more than 26%, reaching 13.6 million quintals.
A Thriving Animal Industry
The livestock sector has also recorded remarkable results. White meat production amounts to 5.4 million quintals, while red meat production reaches 4.8 million quintals. Furthermore, Algeria produced a total of 5.63 billion eggs and 3.25 billion liters of fresh milk.
Factors of Success
These impressive results are the result of judicious government measures. The government has increased the total irrigated area to 1.49 million hectares in 2023, including 344,000 hectares for cereal cultivation, including integrated irrigation.
Additionally, farmers received increased support, with an increase in reference prices for state-subsidized fertilizers. This increase from 20% to 50%, starting October 9, 2022, has strengthened the profitability of the sector.
The government also continued the process of recovering unexploited agricultural land, with the reallocation of more than 864,000 hectares. 300,000 of these lands were transferred to the Fund for the Development of Industrial Agriculture in the Saharan Regions, while the rest was managed by the National Agricultural Land Office.
With the aim of strengthening regulation of the sector, the government launched a program to increase grain storage capacity to 9 million tonnes. This program includes the construction of new storage facilities spread across 44 wilayas, with the creation of 350 local centers and 30 additional silos, as well as the relaunch of a project to build 16 metal silos.
All of these measures and investments demonstrate Algeria’s commitment to guaranteeing the country’s food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development.