Agricultural Production in Southern Algeria Exceeds 90 Quintals Per Hectare Amid Sectoral Reforms
BY Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers – Algeria expects cereal yields exceeding 90 quintals per hectare in parts of the southern regions, Agriculture Minister Yacine El Mahdi Oualid said on Tuesday, highlighting ongoing structural reforms aimed at modernising the agricultural sector and improving productivity.
Speaking at the El Moudjahid Forum, the minister outlined a broad reform agenda covering agricultural governance, subsidy policy, irrigation constraints and statistical modernisation, stressing that agriculture now accounts for 15% of Algeria’s GDP and ranks second after hydrocarbons in wealth creation.
He said the government is shifting toward a model focused on optimal land use and maximising yields while accounting for water scarcity challenges. A national digitalisation programme is also under development to unify agricultural data systems from local production units to central authorities.
Oualid noted that subsidy mechanisms must be redirected to benefit producers and productivity, while confirming a strategic orientation toward drought-resistant wheat varieties. Soil and fertiliser mapping programmes have also been launched to improve input efficiency.
He added that up to 40% of annual cereal production is lost due to post-harvest inefficiencies, particularly machinery maintenance and quality gaps. To address this, the state has distributed improved seeds, deployed 330 high-performance harvesters, and trained 1,300 combine operators, alongside credit schemes for phytosanitary treatment.
According to the minister, the current harvest season has been exceptional, with yields in some southern wilayas surpassing 90 quintals per hectare, driven by improved phytosanitary management, expanded mechanisation and enhanced input distribution.
The strategy also aims to increase local integration in inputs and hybrid seeds, which account for up to 50% of production costs, while a national seed bank project is nearing completion.
On livestock production, Oualid said efforts are underway to stabilise red meat prices next year through improved feed supply, animal health measures and vaccination campaigns against diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease. A livestock identification system using electronic tagging is also being introduced.
He further revealed that legislation is being prepared to restructure the agricultural sector, while noting persistent gaps in farmer registration, with only 500,000 of 2.3 million operators holding professional agricultural cards.
Fish production, he added, is expected to reach 20,000 tonnes next year.
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