In Algeria, vegetable crops such as potatoes, tomatoes and onions are widely consumed in urban areas. Faced with a demand that does not weaken, the production apparatus is trying to ramp up.
In Algeria, the National School of Agronomics (ENSA) has just launched a cooperation project with the Dutch Agricultural University of Wageningen for the design of smart greenhouses for market gardening in peri-urban areas located in the north of the country.
According to information relayed by Algérie presse service (APS), this project, which is currently in the experimental phase, aims in particular to increase the productivity of market gardening in urban areas while reducing farm areas and production costs.
“We have done simulations for the tomato sector and we have had very interesting results. The production level of these smart greenhouses has reached 40 kg per square meter. This is practically double compared to conventional greenhouses, the average yield of which is around 20 kg per square meter,” said Ali Daoudi, research professor in the rural economy department of ENSA.
According to the manager, a prototype of the new greenhouses is planned to be installed at ENSA after the experimental phase for presentation to potential investors.
In Algeria, market gardening covers approximately 5% of the useful agricultural area (UAA) mainly in the wilayas of El Oued and Biskra in the south of the country.
