Agriculture Minister Yacine Oualid chaired a major national meeting on the date industry, bringing together industry professionals and representatives of agricultural organizations, according to a ministry statement.

Held at the headquarters of the National Chamber of Agriculture, this meeting forms part of ongoing consultations with stakeholders from various agricultural sectors. It brought together the presidents of the agricultural chambers from date-producing provinces, as well as representatives from associations, cooperatives, farmers and exporters, alongside the president of the National Chamber.

A range of challenges highlighted by professionals

The meeting allowed participants to highlight the main challenges hindering the sector’s development. Key concerns include plant health, laboratory testing, labelling and certification procedures, and the rehabilitation of oases.

Industry professionals also highlighted challenges relating to storage, transport, the cold chain, mechanisation, packaging, as well as financing and insurance. The structure of the industry and the organisation of the market were also central to the discussions.

An action plan to remove the constraints faced by professionals

In his speech, the minister highlighted the strategic importance of the date industry to the national agricultural economy. He pointed out that Algeria has nearly 19 million date palms and a wide variety of date varieties, offering significant opportunities for growth in both exports and processing.

He also highlighted the ongoing efforts to finalise dedicated industrial zones, designed to support the development of this high value-added sector and boost non-hydrocarbon exports.

Concrete measures in the short and medium term

Among the decisions announced is a plan to step up efforts to combat diseases affecting palm trees, such as ‘boufaroua’ and ‘bayoud’. A survey of agricultural mechanisation needs will also be launched, with the option of either manufacturing certain equipment locally or importing it, notably through the company Agrodiv.

The minister also announced the establishment of a laboratory specialising in the labelling and certification of agricultural products, in partnership with the National Institute for Agricultural Research, with a view to facilitating export operations.

In addition, the formation of cooperatives by professionals will be encouraged to improve the marketing of products on the domestic and international markets. Their participation in international trade fairs will also be supported to promote the quality of Algerian dates.

Support for production and marketing

The measures announced also include the expansion of agricultural electrification, the construction of access roads, fire prevention, and the promotion of solar energy. Support for farmers in drilling wells and accessing credit – particularly for refrigeration – will be stepped up, including for those without land titles.




From a commercial perspective, measures will be put in place to streamline the administrative and banking procedures involved in exporting. The aim is to reduce processing times and improve logistics, in particular by providing large-capacity containers.

The meeting concluded with an in-depth examination of the specific challenges facing the producing provinces, accompanied by proposals for concrete solutions to support the sector’s recovery and modernisation.