September 21, 2024 | 3 months ago

Algeria aims at durum wheat self-sufficiency by 2025, with a target of 1.6 million hectares under cultivation

An ambitious ploughing and sowing campaign is being planned for the 2024-2025 season, aiming to grow 1.6 million hectares of durum wheat in Algeria. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youcef Cherfa, unveiled this initiative aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in durum wheat by next year. Equipped with substantial resources and also including barley cultivation, this global strategy aims to strengthen the country's food security while stimulating its economy.

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Algeria is embarking on an agricultural campaign aimed at self-sufficiency in durum wheat from next year. This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youcef Cherfa, during a national meeting to prepare the ploughing-sowing campaign, held last Thursday in Algiers with the presidents of the cooperative unions of cereals and dried vegetables.

 

The plan for the 2024-2025 sowing campaign provides for the cultivation of 3.069 million hectares, of which 1.6 million hectares, or 55%, will be devoted to durum wheat. More than a million hectares will be dedicated to barley, thus complementing this ambitious cereal strategy which aims to strengthen Algeria's food security and reduce its dependence on imports.

 

To achieve these objectives which would represent a major step forward for the country, both economically and strategically, Cherfa announced the provision of 4.2 million quintals of seeds and a sufficient quantity of fertilizer for the benefit of the Algerian Interprofessional Cereals Office (OAIC). He stressed the importance of a timely launch of the campaign, targeting the production of around 30 million quintals of durum wheat this season.

 

This approach will help avoid the delays recorded the previous year, especially since the weather conditions seem favourable with autumn rains expected.

 

The minister, who welcomed the effective, although discreet, start of the campaign in certain wilayas, urged OAIC executives to guarantee the availability of seeds to farmers. He thus mentions new measures taken in this direction, in particular the allocation of a specific quota for each wilaya. He also focused on strengthening cereal storage capacities through the reception of new centres from next March, to cover all wilayas.

 

From a broader perspective, Cherfa asserted that the agriculture sector, and particularly the grain sector, will play a leading role in the national economy. He called it the « locomotive that will allow the country to reach the traced goal of $400 billion in GDP ». To realize this vision, he reiterated the State's commitment to fully supporting producers, providing them with all necessary means. Algeria thus places agriculture at the heart of its national development priorities.

September 22, 2024 | algeria-logo