Strategic Agricultural Sectors Gain Momentum as Algeria Advances Food Security Agenda

Strategic Agricultural Sectors Gain Momentum as Algeria Advances Food Security Agenda
By Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers — Cereal cultivation, market gardening, and arboriculture are steadily consolidating their position as core pillars of Algeria’s food security strategy, amid a shifting geopolitical environment and the mounting pressures of climate change.

Within this context, Algeria has moved to implement a structured development approach targeting its most strategic agricultural sectors, with particular emphasis on cereal production. These efforts reflect a broader national objective of strengthening food sovereignty through sustained increases in domestic output.

Speaking on national radio, Brahim Djeraibia, President of the Chamber of Agriculture of Algiers, highlighted the scale of progress achieved in recent years. He noted that national agricultural production now covers approximately 80 percent of the country’s food requirements, alongside a measurable reduction in import dependency. The sector, he added, contributes around 15 percent to the gross domestic product, positioning it as a central component of the national economy after hydrocarbons.

This trajectory has been supported by a series of state-led measures aimed at both expanding and safeguarding production capacity. These include the development of cold storage infrastructure, the strengthening of storage systems, and the provision of agricultural equipment. At the same time, targeted programmes are being deployed to address structural gaps in certain segments, particularly in the production of meat, milk, and soft wheat, through large-scale projects developed in partnership with international actors.

Djeraibia expressed cautious optimism regarding rain-fed agriculture, pointing to favourable climatic conditions during the current agricultural season. Cumulative rainfall reaching approximately 600 millimetres since September 2025 has created conducive conditions, particularly for durum wheat. However, he stressed that reliance on rainfall alone is no longer sufficient, calling for a transition towards modern, knowledge-based agriculture grounded in supplementary irrigation and water-efficient techniques.

In this regard, he underscored that agriculture has evolved into a science requiring advanced production systems. Multi-span greenhouse cultivation, he noted, offers viable solutions for ensuring continuous supply to urban centres. At the same time, the sector must contend with emerging risks linked to climate-induced plant diseases, reinforcing the need for stronger integration between agricultural practice and scientific research.

Seed sovereignty was identified as a critical dimension of long-term food security. Djeraibia recalled that Algeria has not imported wheat seeds for more than three decades, describing this as a strategic achievement supported by national expertise, particularly through the work of the technical institute for field crops, which has developed more than 200 seed varieties. This effort is further reinforced by farmers’ participation in seed multiplication programmes.

Efforts to modernise the sector also extend to human capital development. A national training programme for technicians specialising in the maintenance of agricultural equipment has recently been launched in Sidi Bel Abbès, reflecting a broader push to enhance operational efficiency across the value chain.

In parallel, new partnerships are contributing to the renewal of the national machinery fleet. An agreement between PMA Trading, a state-owned enterprise for agricultural equipment, and Agrodrive, a subsidiary of Agrodiv, provides for the acquisition of 331 combine harvesters and 1,800 tractors. This initiative is intended to support ploughing, sowing, and harvesting operations, while also reducing post-harvest losses, which are currently estimated at around 30 percent.

The arboriculture sector is also experiencing notable expansion, particularly in citrus and apple production. Intensive planting methods have increased planting density from 300 to between 600 and 800 trees per hectare. Orchards established between 2017 and 2018 are now reaching full production, contributing to an output estimated at 18 million quintals across 80,000 hectares. This expansion has translated into improved market availability and relative price stability.

Despite these advances, challenges remain in the organisation of agricultural markets. Djeraibia stressed the importance of strengthening agricultural cooperatives as a mechanism for structuring distribution and marketing. While regulatory reforms have simplified their creation, further measures are required to enhance their effectiveness and align them with international standards.

Looking ahead, the digitalisation of the agricultural sector is expected to play a decisive role in improving transparency, enabling product traceability, and addressing pricing distortions, thereby supporting a more structured and efficient agricultural economy.

Adapted from:

https://www.horizons.dz/2026/04/cerealiculture-maraichage-et-arboriculture-un-elan-productif-prometteur/