Algeria Moves to Unlock Agricultural Land: Oualid Leads National Drive to Reform Access, Accelerate Regularisation, and Safeguard Food Security

Algeria Moves to Unlock Agricultural Land: Oualid Leads National Drive to Reform Access, Accelerate Regularisation, and Safeguard Food Security
By Dr. Hana Saada

Algeria is intensifying efforts to overhaul the governance of agricultural land, positioning reform of land tenure as a central lever in its broader strategy to reinforce food security and stimulate investment. In this context, Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid convened a national meeting in Algiers to assess progress and recalibrate policy execution, in alignment with directives issued by Abdelmadjid Tebboune and within the framework of the sectoral roadmap for 2026–2027.

Held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, the meeting brought together senior officials and regional directors of the National Office of Agricultural Lands. It served as a comprehensive review of the ongoing process of agricultural land regularisation, while also providing a forum to identify administrative bottlenecks and structural constraints that continue to impede implementation.

At the centre of deliberations was the legal and regulatory architecture governing agricultural land. Participants examined the application of Interministerial Circular No. 02 of June 2025, as well as the framework established by the law on agricultural concessions—particularly the conversion of usufruct rights into concession titles. These mechanisms are intended to clarify land tenure, enhance legal certainty, and facilitate long-term investment in the agricultural sector.

The discussions also extended to the strategic management of land as a finite resource. Emphasis was placed on ensuring access under conditions that are both sustainable and operationally efficient, reflecting a policy orientation that seeks to reconcile productivity with long-term stewardship. Within this framework, Oualid underscored the critical importance attributed by the state to land regularisation as a “fundamental pillar” of national food security, calling for the removal of administrative obstacles and the simplification of access procedures to unlock investment potential.

A key element of the reform agenda lies in a forthcoming draft law on agricultural land, currently under review at the General Secretariat of the Government. The proposed legislation aims to consolidate the disparate regulatory texts governing land into a single, coherent legal instrument. It is expected to enshrine the principle of protecting agricultural land from misuse or encroachment, while simultaneously streamlining administrative processes—a dual objective designed to enhance both regulatory clarity and economic attractiveness.

In parallel, the ministry announced the launch, within the current year, of a nationwide soil characterisation initiative. This programme will culminate in the development of a comprehensive national soil map, intended to guide agricultural activity on the basis of precise scientific data. Such an approach signals a shift towards evidence-based planning, enabling more efficient allocation of resources and improved agricultural outcomes.

The meeting also incorporated feedback from regional directors, who presented field-level concerns and practical proposals for improving the regularisation process. These contributions are set to inform the ongoing drafting of the new legislative framework, ensuring that policy design remains grounded in operational realities.

Concluding the session, Oualid issued a series of directives aimed at accelerating the pace of reform. These include enhanced coordination among relevant administrative bodies, the systematic identification of pending cases, and the prioritisation of their resolution within the shortest possible timeframe. The objective is clear: to transition from a protracted and fragmented system to a streamlined, transparent and investment-friendly land regime capable of underpinning Algeria’s agricultural ambitions.