Algeria: The potato sector faces growing demand
In Algeria, the roadmap for the Agriculture and Rural Development sector in 2024 places special emphasis on the potato sector due to its socio-economic significance. To ensure sufficient stocks to meet local market needs and address potential supply disruptions while preserving price stability and citizens’ purchasing power, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youcef Cherfa, convened a meeting on Tuesday with members of the Interprofessional Council for this sector.
Participants in this meeting, including ministry officials, discussed the development prospects of this strategic sector in Algeria, particularly in terms of production and regulation.
According to a ministry statement, this working session follows «efforts made with all stakeholders to preserve the achievements of this sector and increase production levels to meet the growing demand for this staple, whether for consumption, processing, or export».
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, the minister emphasized «the importance of synergy and dialogue with all stakeholders to strengthen production capacities and achieve the set objectives in this regard».
Despite challenges related to the 2022-2023 agricultural season, the agricultural sector has recorded positive results, demonstrating its crucial role in the national economy and ensuring food security, with a potato production of 42 million quintals.
Last November, leveraging a strategic potato stock exceeding 130,000 tons, the National Interprofessional Office for Vegetables and Meats (ONILEV) initiated a destocking operation of 30,000 tons for consumption.
As an example, the El-Méniâa province recorded a production of 198,000 quintals during the week, while in the Aïn Defla province, the Agricultural Services Directorate anticipates a projected harvest of nearly 400,000 quintals, following a harvest in the previous season estimated at 1.5 million quintals.
In Mostaganem, a production of 189,000 quintals was achieved on an area of 860 hectares (39%) with a yield of 220 quintals per hectare.
Currently holding the top position nationally with approximately 40% of the national potato production, the El-Oued province produced around 5 million quintals in the past year.
Pedro OKALAMAR
