The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yacine El Mahdi Oualid, has affirmed that efforts to finalize the agricultural land regularization process are progressing steadily and are nearing completion. This statement was made in response to an oral question during a session of the People’s National Assembly.
Minister Oualid emphasized that both the Wilaya (province) committees and the National Committee responsible for regularizing agricultural land are actively working to resolve various outstanding issues. He noted that this process is being carried out in accordance with the joint ministerial circular number 2, issued on June 1st of the previous year.
The National Committee, established on December 9th, 2024, is dedicated to settling all pending cases, particularly those arising from ambiguities in certain legal provisions or non-compliance by some farmers with agreed-upon terms. Key issues being addressed include the transfer of concession rights to heirs and procedures for termination of concessions when heirs fail to submit succession files. Furthermore, the activation of the right to relinquish concession rights is also under review.
Oualid clarified that any investor holding a concession who wishes to relinquish their right to the agricultural concession must notify the National Office for Agricultural Land (ONTA). This notification must detail the proposed compensation amount and the potential recipient of the concession right. The Minister stressed that relinquishing the concession right does not automatically imply relinquishing the land itself, which remains the private property of the state.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had previously directed that the agricultural land issue be resolved before the end of 2025. The Ministry aims to meet this deadline and ensure a stable and transparent framework for agricultural land use.
