The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid, emphasized on Tuesday the importance of the measures approved by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during a working meeting held on Monday regarding agricultural mechanization. He stated that these measures would have a significant impact on the sector’s productivity. This statement was made during a study day focused on integrating scientific research results into the development of the grain and pulses sectors, organized by the Algerian Interprofessional Grains Office, in the presence of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kamel Baddari, at the Higher Institute of Management and Planning in Bordj El Bahri, Algiers.
The Minister added that these measures would have a “very significant” impact, given the close link between mechanization and productivity. He noted that the presidential-level study of this issue is evidence of the great importance the state attaches to it. In this context, the Minister explained that the widespread adoption of mechanization would prevent the loss of significant portions of production, noting that recent studies have shown a loss of 10 to 20 percent of grain production each harvest season due to delays in starting the process or the use of inappropriate techniques and non-compliant equipment.
The speaker further stated that the sector has placed the modernization of agriculture at the top of its priorities, as it is the only way to increase productivity and face the challenge of food security. Yacine Oualid also explained that the average per capita consumption of grain in Algeria reaches 218 kg per year, compared to a global average of no more than 65 kg. This necessitates the use of modern techniques to ensure the sustainability of production in this sector by increasing land productivity from the current 15 quintals per hectare to 30 quintals per hectare.
He also revealed that during the current year, in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, laboratories will be established to analyze the composition of fertilizers to ensure their compliance with the necessary standards.
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