Algeria: Good grain harvests will help reduce food imports

Algeria, which is important even today, 60% of its cereal needs, could be revised downwards in view of the large harvest ever recorded.It has increasingly concentrate don a policy of enhancing food security and which has learned from the crisis of 2008 when grain prices rose from 250 to nearly 1,000 dollars per tonne on world markets, has followed a new approach to agricultural development based on rural renewal. This is a timely development in the face of increased global food prices.

This new vision of integrated agricultural development as a  project-based sector is designed to reverse years of previous state policies on collectivesim which so damaged agriculture in Algeria. The effort now is to promote "harmonious " development and to improve the conditions of rural communities and involving the communities in agricultural production and thus to consolidate rural renewal.Ultimately the cultivation of the land must revolve round the farmer who must be allowed to benefit from his successful cultivation of the land. The need for larger agricultural units is there but agricultural communities have to be able to benefit form their work without resorts to subsidies.

Dr. Rachid Benaissa said  at  the Interprofessional Cereals Board conference  that 40% of the population lives in rural areas."the countryside must be synonymous with potential to add value."

The constraints of the  agricultural sector, includea deficiency of rainfall and an  insuffiecient soil fertility . Two
elements that leave the yield per hectare on average, to 10 quintals, whereas it is 70 quintals in Europe. He added that the production per hectare  is expected to reach 55 quintals in 2012, EL Moudjahid reported.

According to forecasts made by the CEO of CATO, between 56 and 58 million quintals of cereals are expected under the 2011-2012 campaign, while the yield per hectare to 18 quintals will on average. The second record after that of 2009 (61 million cwt). Noureddine Kehal will report back to the import bill, almost $ 450 million at the end of April 2012 against more than  $ 850 million the same period of 2011. A trend that will continue as part of efforts to improve the performance of the sector.

If Algeria can achieve food security and lower its imports it will help rectify its balance of payments as it has always had a large food import bill. It has acknolwedged that oil and gas revenues will not plug the gap forever and indeed lower oil prices because of economic recession will bring down revenue in the short term.Lack of water irrigation systems is still limiting food production . If this could be resolved Algeria might become an exporter of certain crops in the future.