Boumerdes – Algeria is set to more than double its national grain storage capacity from the current 4 million tons to 9 million tons within the next two years, according to Youssef Cherfa, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries.
During a press briefing held on Monday in the province of Boumerdes, Minister Cherfa explained that this strategic move is part of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s national food security agenda, aimed at meeting domestic consumption demands and reducing import dependency.
Major Infrastructure Projects Underway
To achieve this ambitious goal, the ministry will soon launch the construction of 30 large-scale silos, 16 medium-sized ones, and 352 neighborhood grain storage centers nationwide. Each local center will have a capacity of 5,000 quintals, enabling improved distribution and strategic stockpiling across Algeria.
“These vital projects are designed to ensure self-sufficiency, enhance food security, and gradually phase out the importation of wheat and barley, with a future goal of completely halting the import of soft wheat,” said Minister Cherfa.
He made the remarks while laying the foundation stone for a new regional silo in the municipality of Si Mustapha, east of Boumerdes. The facility will hold 1 million quintals of grain and comes with an investment of over 8 billion DZD.
Support for Livestock and Fishing Sectors
The Minister also praised President Tebboune’s decision, made during the recent Council of Ministers meeting, to import one million sheep ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Adha. He emphasized that this measure is intended to support citizens’ purchasing power and ensure they can celebrate the religious holiday with ease and dignity.
Strengthening the National Tuna Fleet
In a separate development, Minister Cherfa oversaw the commissioning of a 35-meter-long tuna fishing vessel, constructed by a private Algerian company at Zemmouri Port. He stated that this is the fourth vessel of its kind, built with 70% local integration, and forms part of Algeria’s growing tuna fleet, which now includes around 40 ships.
He also announced that another private shipyard is currently building Algeria’s first 42-meter tuna vessel, set to be launched soon. The Minister stressed the need to support and strengthen this vital maritime sector.
Boosting Aquaculture for National Supply
During his visit, Cherfa also supervised the release of approximately 1.2 million juvenile sea bass and royal seabream into floating cages along the Zemmouri coast. He noted that this seasonal operation has now been launched across all relevant coastal provinces.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s 2025 objective to develop marine aquaculture both at sea and within agricultural projects, ensuring that fish becomes more accessible and affordable for all Algerians.
With these developments, Algeria continues to assert its economic sovereignty by strengthening key sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and food security, in line with President Tebboune’s vision for a self-reliant and resilient national economy.
Written by: Nor Eleslam – DZWatch.dz
