Algeria is facing a poultry crisis which is causing concern among the population. The spectacular rise in white meat prices has pushed the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Abdelhafid Hanif, to urgently convene all players in the sector to take radical measures to address this worrying situation.
The emergency meeting held at the ministry’s headquarters brought together key representatives of the white meat industry, including the National Animal Feed Office (ONAB), the Algerian Society for the Regulation of Agricultural Products (SARPA), the Public Economic Refrigeration Company (FRIGOMEDIT), as well as breeders affiliated with the National Federation of Poultry Breeders, themselves members of the National Union of Algerian Farmers (UNPA). The meeting also had the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Commerce and Export Promotion.
The decisions taken by Minister Hanif during this crucial meeting are as follows:
1. Immediate launch of investigations by veterinary services.
Faced with the surge in prices, in-depth investigations will be carried out to identify the underlying factors of this sudden and unjustified increase.
2. Accelerate the supply of inputs to small breeders.
Small breeders will quickly receive the necessary inputs, in particular poultry feed, subject to obtaining health authorization from the veterinary services of the wilaya.
3. Announce the minimum prices for ONAB foods.
Stable minimum prices will be established in the national market for feed marketed by the National Animal Feed Office, thus ensuring cost predictability throughout the year.
4. Setting the price of broiler chicks.
The unit price of one-day-old broiler chicks will be 120 DA per unit. The sale will remain free, but rigorous monitoring of breeders and breeding cooperatives will be put in place.
5. Increase in production capacity.
The market will be stocked with local and imported products to meet growing demand.
6. Reduction in supply times for imported white meat.
Efficiency in the distribution of imported white meat will be improved to meet market needs.
7. Consultations for a sectoral agreement.
Discussions will be held with representatives of the National Federation of Poultry Breeders with a view to reaching a sectoral agreement. The objective is to define an optimal organizational and management model for the sector, aimed at guaranteeing price stability on the market. These consultations will involve all industry players, from food producers to cooperatives and institutional organizations.
The Minister of Agriculture has clearly taken bold steps to address this poultry crisis in Algeria. The ongoing investigation is expected to reveal the responsibilities behind this price spike, while price stabilization measures aim to mitigate the impact on consumers. The continuation of this food saga will be closely scrutinized by all Algerians who hope for a return to affordable prices for white meat, an essential element of their daily diet.
