ALGERIA – Algeria is on a determined path to achieve self-sufficiency in durum wheat by 2027, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youcef Cherfa, has announced.
Minister Cherfa, accompanied by the Minister of Water Resources, Taha Derbal, unveiled a comprehensive plan to support this drive towards self-sufficiency during a field visit to the Tindouf province.
This ambitious goal is part of the National Strategic Crop Development Plan, which aims to bolster the country’s agricultural output and ensure food security.
Central to this plan is the construction of 30 grain storage silos starting in July, with a combined capacity of 30 million quintals.
According to him, this significant investment in storage infrastructure is essential for achieving and maintaining the target of complete self-sufficiency in durum wheat.
The new investment law, which facilitates partnerships with foreign companies, plays a crucial role in this initiative.
These collaborations are expected to bring advanced technology and expertise to Algeria, significantly boosting yields in strategic crops, including durum wheat. Minister Cherfa emphasized the importance of these partnerships in enhancing Algeria’s agricultural productivity.
In line with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s program, efforts are also underway to convert pilot farms into fully operational production units.
This transformation is part of a broader strategy to diversify and increase agricultural output. As part of this strategy, Algeria plans to plant approximately 3,000 hectares of argan trees this season, positioning the country to become a significant producer of argan oil in the future.
Minister Cherfa expressed satisfaction with the current agricultural output, particularly in southern regions such as Adrar, Timimoune, Illizi, Ghardaïa, and El Ménea. The success in these areas has prompted plans to expand cereal production areas to nearly 500,000 hectares, aiming to establish a strategic reserve in the Saharan zones.
Highlighting the financial benefits, Minister Cherfa reported a substantial harvest of durum wheat this year, generating US$1.2 billion in savings for the national treasury.
He emphasized that Algeria is nearing total self-sufficiency in durum wheat.
President Tebboune echoed this sentiment, noting that 80% of the wheat produced in Algeria is durum wheat, which is traditionally produced and consumed locally.
Given its limited availability on international markets compared to soft wheat, focusing on durum wheat is strategically advantageous.
To further support this goal, the President set a strategic objective to expand cultivated areas in the southern regions to 500,000 hectares, with investments from Qatar on 117,000 hectares, Italy on 36,000 hectares, and national investments on 120,000 hectares.
In Tindouf, Minister Cherfa laid the foundation stone for a new local grain storage complex with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes and inaugurated a project to connect 199 agricultural operations to the electrical grid in the Oued el Mahia area. With a budget of 40 million DA, this project is expected to be completed within 45 days.
The ministerial delegation also visited various pavilions at a local agricultural products fair and inspected an integrated poultry and egg production complex, which meets 60% of the province’s needs.
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