Determined to ensure its food security and reduce its dependence on imports, Algeria is resolutely heading towards food self-sufficiency. Ambitious reforms and concrete actions are underway in various key sectors, demonstrating a strong political will to stimulate sustainable economic growth.
A concrete example of this promising approach is the country’s remarkable performance in the recent wheat harvest. Indeed, with 3 million tonnes expected for the 2024-2025 campaign, Algeria ranks 2nd among wheat producers in Africa.
But Algeria’s excellence is not limited to wheat. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the country confirms its status as the leading apricot producer in Africa, surpassing eight other major nations on the continent, namely Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, Libya, Madagascar, Cameroon, and Kenya.
However, Algeria’s excellence is not limited to wheat. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the country confirms its status as the leading producer of apricots in Africa, surpassing eight other major nations on the continent, namely Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, Libya, Madagascar, Cameroon, and Kenya. Much more than that, Algeria proudly rises to the rank of 4th apricot producer in the world, just behind the giants Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
In 2021, Algeria had already posted a remarkable production of 190,000 tonnes of apricots, followed by a notable increase in 2022 with 256,771 tonnes. This upward trend testifies to the dynamics and resilience of the Algerian arboricultural sector.
Experts attribute this performance to several factors, including favorable climatic conditions in certain regions of the country, the adoption of modern agricultural techniques, and the commitment of farmers to the production of quality apricots.
Apricot, a success for Algerian agriculture, a challenge for purchasing power
With an area dedicated to the cultivation of apricot trees of 38,239 hectares, Algeria has significant potential to further increase its production and meet the growing demand for fresh fruits, both on the national and international markets.
The valorization of this production through processing and export also constitutes a promising area of development for the Algerian agri-food sector.
However, the quantity of apricots produced each year in no way reflects the prices charged on the national market.
For a producing country, that is among the top four in the world, this fruit should be offered at very competitive prices, thus allowing small and medium-sized markets to benefit from it.
However, the reality is quite different: the price of apricot fluctuates between 300 and 500 DA/kg, making it inaccessible for many. As for dried apricots, their price can reach 2,000 DA/Kg!
This situation poses a real problem to which the public authorities cannot find solutions, leaving the people to bear the financial consequences.
