Algeria Pushes Industrial Autonomy in Agricultural Mechanisation Drive
By Dr. Hana Saada
Algeria is accelerating efforts to build industrial autonomy in agricultural mechanisation, as policymakers seek to reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic production capacity in a sector increasingly viewed as central to food security. A regional meeting on agricultural machinery was held on Saturday in Constantine, underscoring the strategic weight now attached to mechanisation within national agricultural policy.
Against a backdrop of structural transformation in global food systems and mounting operational constraints, Algerian agriculture is being repositioned towards a more technology-intensive model. Mechanisation is now framed as a core lever of productivity, resilience and food security, rather than a supplementary input.
At the Constantine meeting, the Director-General of Agricultural Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Lotfi Gharnaout, outlined a series of structural reforms aimed at modernising the sector. These include the creation of specialised agricultural machinery cooperatives and the rollout of what he described as a first-of-its-kind nationwide digital census of equipment, designed to provide a granular assessment of assets and operational needs.
This diagnostic framework has been reinforced by the establishment of AgroDrive, a subsidiary of the public group Agrodiv, tasked with structuring and supporting the national mechanisation ecosystem.
In parallel, preparations for the upcoming harvest season—particularly in southern regions—include the deployment of more than 330 locally produced combine harvesters, alongside a broader programme to introduce over 1,800 tractors with a domestic integration rate exceeding 70 per cent. The policy objective is explicitly twofold: to reduce reliance on imports and to stimulate the emergence of a domestic agricultural machinery industry.
AgroDrive’s Director-General, Benyoucef Derkaoui, stressed that the company already operates across a geographically dispersed network covering southern regions such as Adrar, El Meniaa and Ouargla, as well as northern and eastern zones including Relizane and Médéa. While initial operations have focused on cereal production, the strategic ambition extends to other priority value chains, signalling a gradual shift towards an integrated agricultural services model.
On the investment side, the state has allocated nearly 28 billion dinars this year for the acquisition of 531 combine harvesters. A contract signed on 4 April 2026 with PMAT (Production Matériel Agricole Trading) covers 331 units scheduled for delivery by the end of June, while the remaining 200 will be procured through an international tender. The programme is expected to generate approximately 2,700 direct jobs.
A broader training initiative has also been launched to address persistent technical skill gaps in machinery operation, particularly in high-yield cereal regions. Authorities estimate that inefficiencies linked to inadequate training contribute to annual losses of around 40,000 tonnes.
Beyond cereals, AgroDrive is expected to expand its intervention to other strategic crops, including potatoes and maize, as part of a wider diversification agenda. Its multi-year programme is structured around three phases spanning 2025 to 2028, with total investment estimated at 127.5 billion dinars. The roadmap includes the establishment of regional units, the gradual expansion of mechanised fleets, and ultimately the development of domestic production capacity capable of operating independently of imports.
By the final phase, policymakers aim to achieve full operational autonomy in the national machinery fleet, including the development of locally adapted equipment for varied terrain and the completion of full technology transfer.
In parallel, the National Agricultural Mutual Insurance Fund (CNMA) is playing an increasingly central role in supporting this transition. Its Director-General, Cherif Benhabylés, highlighted the expansion of tailored insurance products covering equipment, yield losses and occupational risks, reflecting the growing financial sophistication of the sector.
In 2025, subscriptions exceeded 15.2 billion dinars, with agricultural insurance growing by nearly 10 per cent and accounting for around 80 per cent of the market. Compensation payments reached 8.1 billion dinars. A framework agreement between CNMA and AgroDrive has since formalised closer coordination between insurance mechanisms and mechanisation policy, signalling a more integrated approach to agricultural modernisation.
Adapted from:
https://www.horizons.dz/2026/04/machinisme-agricole-lalgerie-mise-sur-lautonomie-industrielle/
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