Agricultural Information System Marks Turning Point in Algeria’s Farm Governance, Economist Houari Tigharsi Says
By Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS — Algeria’s launch of a National Agricultural Information System represents a structural shift in the governance of the country’s agricultural sector, replacing traditional management based on estimates with a data-driven model capable of supporting evidence-based policymaking, according to Algerian economist Dr. Houari Tigharsi.
Speaking in an interview with Horizons, Tigharsi described the new digital platform as a strategic milestone that lays the foundations for modern agricultural governance through the collection, integration and real-time analysis of reliable sectoral data. He argued that contemporary agricultural economies can no longer rely on approximate assessments but require integrated information systems capable of guiding proactive rather than reactive government decision-making.
The Ministry of Agriculture officially launched the National Agricultural Information System as part of a broader digital transformation strategy aimed at providing comprehensive, continuously updated information covering agricultural production, cultivated land, livestock, water resources, agricultural markets and financing mechanisms.
According to Tigharsi, one of the system’s principal strengths lies in its ability to establish a unified national agricultural database while improving coordination between central government institutions, provincial authorities and local administrations. He said the platform would also contribute to more efficient allocation of public agricultural subsidies, strengthen food security policies and enhance strategic planning across the sector.
The economist noted that the system integrates multiple operational modules, including harvest monitoring, agricultural land registration, livestock management, fertiliser distribution, market monitoring, agricultural financing and climate change indicators, allowing authorities to monitor developments across the sector in real time.
He said the initiative directly responds to repeated calls by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for the establishment of accurate and reliable agricultural databases capable of supporting scientific and rational policymaking.
“The fundamental challenge facing the agricultural sector has not been production alone, but rather the absence of reliable information,” Tigharsi explained. “When the State possesses accurate data on farmers, cultivated land, livestock, water resources, strategic reserves and soil fertility, it becomes capable of planning on a scientific basis rather than relying on outdated estimates.”
He argued that previous policy decisions were often constrained by incomplete or obsolete information, creating discrepancies between administrative planning and realities on the ground. By contrast, the new system enables decision-makers to access real-time data, allowing faster, more accurate and more effective responses.
Nevertheless, Tigharsi stressed that the success of the platform will depend on several operational conditions, including continuous updating of data, mandatory participation by all agricultural administrations, interoperability with other government sectors, and robust safeguards for data protection and cybersecurity.
Beyond improving statistical accuracy, the economist believes the platform will significantly enhance forecasting, governance and transparency throughout the agricultural sector.
Rather than responding only after crises emerge, authorities will be able to anticipate potential disruptions through continuous monitoring of fertiliser stocks, reservoir levels, animal health indicators and climatic conditions. Such predictive capabilities, he said, would allow earlier intervention before shortages, disease outbreaks or production disruptions occur.
The system is also expected to strengthen transparency by enabling authorities to track the allocation of public subsidies, agricultural inputs and financial assistance, reducing opportunities for bureaucracy, duplication, favouritism and inefficient resource allocation.
For the first time, government agricultural programmes could be evaluated using measurable performance indicators instead of administrative assumptions, thereby improving accountability and public policy assessment.
Looking ahead, Tigharsi forecast substantial medium-term gains if the platform is fully implemented and effectively utilised.
He expects improved agricultural productivity through more informed decision-making, better distribution of seeds and fertilisers based on actual field requirements, reduced post-harvest losses through enhanced monitoring of harvesting, storage and transportation, and stronger management of strategic crops.
The digital system is also expected to improve water resource management by integrating monitoring of dams, water stress indicators and climate change data while supporting Algeria’s broader objective of reducing food imports through increased domestic production and enhanced food security.
Tigharsi devoted particular attention to the significance of the project’s development by young Algerian engineers and software specialists, describing it as evidence of the country’s growing domestic technological capabilities.
He argued that Algeria should now move beyond isolated digital initiatives towards building a comprehensive national agricultural technology (AgriTech) ecosystem capable of generating innovative solutions tailored to the country’s agricultural challenges.
Among the measures he recommended are the creation of specialised AgriTech incubators, increased financing for start-ups working in artificial intelligence and smart agriculture, broader access to public agricultural databases for researchers and innovators within legal safeguards, stronger university-industry collaboration, public procurement opportunities for Algerian technology companies, expanded digital training for farmers, and wider broadband internet coverage in rural areas.
“Investing in digital skills has become just as important as investing in agricultural land,” Tigharsi concluded. “Modern agriculture is increasingly built on data, artificial intelligence, remote sensing technologies and drone applications. These technologies will define the future competitiveness of the agricultural sector.”
Adapted from:
https://www.horizons.dz/2026/06/houari-tigharsi-economiste-a-horizons/
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