Algeria Bets Big on Oilseed Crops in the South

Algeria is launching an ambitious agricultural development plan in its southern wilayas, with oilseed crops as the spearhead. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youcef Cherfa, announced during national meetings with investors that more than 300,000 hectares will be dedicated to these strategic crops.

The objective is twofold: to produce 100% Algerian table oil and, in the long term, to position itself in the export market. This initiative is part of a larger plan aimed at developing one million hectares by 2028. The distribution provides for 500,000 hectares for cereals and barley, 220,000 for corn, and 20,000 for legumes.

The minister displays high ambitions, declaring that « 2025 will be the last year Algeria imports durum wheat ». Currently, national production covers 80% of local wheat demand.

The Office for the Development of Industrial Agriculture in Saharan Lands (ODAS), created in 2020, plays a central role in this strategy. It has already enabled the creation of 54 development areas, totaling nearly 460,000 hectares. Of this total, 264,000 hectares have been distributed to 431 farmers, of which 286 are already installed.

However, challenges persist. Investors raise concerns about access to agricultural electricity, improvement of communication networks, and the opening of access roads. They also advocate for the creation of a « green corridor » in ports to facilitate the import of agricultural equipment.

This ambitious plan represents a bet on the future of Algerian agriculture. By valorizing the vast expanses of the South, Algeria aims not only to ensure its food security but also to position itself as a major player on the regional agricultural scene.

The success of this project will depend on the government’s ability to overcome logistical and infrastructural challenges while effectively supporting investors. The stakes are high: transforming the desert into a granary and making agriculture a pillar of the post-oil national economy.

This initiative could serve as a model for other countries seeking to valorize their arid lands in the face of growing global food challenges. The future will tell if this bold bet on the Saharan South will bear fruit, but one thing is certain: Algeria is determined to write a new chapter in its agricultural history. R.E