Algeria Introduces Supplier Credit Scheme to Reinforce Cereal Production for 2025–2026 Season

Algeria Introduces Supplier Credit Scheme to Reinforce Cereal Production for 2025–2026 Season

By Dr. Hana Saada

In a high-level coordination meeting held on Thursday, April 9, Youcef Cherfa, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, convened key stakeholders from across the cereals sector to assess the on-ground implementation of measures aimed at supporting producers and enhancing crop yields for the 2025–2026 season.

The meeting served as a central platform for the formal launch of the “supplier credit” mechanism, a newly introduced financing instrument designed to facilitate farmers’ access to essential agricultural inputs. The scheme enables producers—particularly those with limited financial capacity—to procure plant protection products, seeds, and fertilizers, with deferred payment structured around post-harvest commercialization.

Positioned as a targeted intervention within the broader cereal development programme, the initiative seeks to strengthen phytosanitary protection and ensure timely responses to plant diseases and pest threats. This approach is expected to mitigate yield losses and improve productivity, especially given estimates indicating that untreated phytosanitary risks can result in crop losses of up to 40 percent annually.

The session brought together a wide spectrum of participants, including senior sector officials, representatives of professional organizations, public institutions, technical research bodies, and emerging enterprises specializing in innovative crop monitoring solutions.

In his opening address, the minister underscored the imperative of transitioning toward a more rigorous, science-based agricultural model anchored in continuous field evaluation and adherence to technical production pathways. Particular emphasis was placed on the optimization of fertilization and plant treatment practices as decisive factors in improving per-hectare yields.

He further noted the positive momentum characterizing the current agricultural season, supported by favorable climatic conditions and a comprehensive package of measures. Among the most notable initiatives is the provision of seeds without upfront payment through the supplier credit system, enabling thousands of farmers—particularly those facing financial constraints—to complete sowing operations within optimal timelines.

Additional measures include the establishment of post-sowing monitoring units across major production regions, tasked with providing ongoing technical guidance and ensuring the effective use of plant protection products. During February and March alone, 368 extension days were organized, benefiting over 3,800 farmers, with outreach efforts continuing through the crop treatment phase.

Fertilizer availability has also been reinforced, notably through the allocation of an additional 50 percent supply of nitrogen-based fertilizers, reflecting an intensification strategy expected to translate into higher yields.

In a notable technological advancement, unmanned aerial systems (drones) have been deployed for the first time this season to monitor crop development and fertilization with enhanced precision. Plans are underway to extend their use to phytosanitary treatments, with the objective of improving targeting efficiency, reducing chemical usage, and strengthening disease control outcomes.

The minister emphasized that the supplier credit mechanism provides farmers with streamlined and timely access to inputs, particularly during critical intervention windows requiring rapid and effective action to safeguard crops.

The meeting also addressed preparations for the upcoming harvest and threshing campaign. In this regard, the minister issued directives to reinforce logistical capacities, expand storage infrastructure, and accelerate the renewal of the national agricultural machinery fleet, in line with the mechanization programme endorsed by the President of the Republic.