Algiers – The decision by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to refine the General Agricultural Census, made during his chairing of the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday, has been welcomed by several experts who described it as a “strategic” move for the future of the agricultural sector and the national economy.
During the Council of Ministers meeting, the President emphasized the strategic importance of the General Agricultural Census for making optimal decisions, modernizing the agricultural sector, and enhancing its pivotal role in achieving food security. In this context, he directed the Minister of Agriculture to meticulously account for all national agricultural production across its various branches, including livestock by type and their national distribution, the progress rate of irrigated areas, and the number of fruit trees by variety, particularly olive and palm trees.
In a statement to APS, economic expert and research professor at the National Higher School of Agriculture in Algiers, Professor Ali Daoudi, explained that refining the census of all agricultural production would “improve data quality, facilitating its processing, dissemination, and utilization by researchers and decision-makers.” Unlike field studies with limited geographic scope, the General Agricultural Census provides a comprehensive national database, aiding in a better understanding of agricultural dynamics across different regions of the country. He cited the example of the sheep sector, noting the importance of precise livestock maps for each province and municipality to identify high-concentration areas and support sectoral analyses. According to Daoudi, the data derived from the census will also benefit the irrigation, industry, and trade sectors. He added, “For instance, the Ministry of Trade could forecast regional needs for storage and distribution infrastructure, while the Ministry of Industry could establish food processing plants based on each region’s agricultural potential.”
Similarly, agricultural economics expert Sami Assassi described the President’s decision as “decisive” in bolstering the national food security strategy. He highlighted the importance of accurate census data on production, sectors, livestock, and cultivated areas, using modern technologies like drones and satellite imagery to gain a clear and unified view of the agricultural situation. He noted, “Food security rests on two pillars: increasing productivity and expanding cultivated areas, especially in the south. To attract major investors, reliable and updated information on agricultural capacities and available infrastructure must be provided.”
For her part, agriculture and environment expert Fatoum Lakhdari considered this initiative a means to identify the true production capacities and shortcomings that need addressing to achieve self-sufficiency goals. She stated, “We cannot aspire to self-sufficiency without precisely knowing what we cultivate or produce. We must clarify our strengths and weaknesses.” She recommended establishing agricultural observatories in large production zones, supervised by experts in agriculture, irrigation, and livestock, to serve as early warning systems for monitoring yields, water salinity levels, sand encroachment on soil, and the broader impacts of climate change.
