Algiers – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youssef Cherfa, confirmed today in Algiers that the agriculture sector is fully prepared to launch the anticipated general census operation scheduled between May 19 and July 17.
During a work meeting he chaired at the Ministry’s headquarters, attended by the agricultural directors of fifty-eight (58) provinces and sector officials, Mr. Cherfa stated, “We are 100 percent ready to launch this operation which will enable us to transition to sustainable agriculture by obtaining more comprehensive data on various branches of the sector.”
The minister indicated that the census process might be extended by 15 days in some regions and highlighted the preparations for this extensive operation as a multi-sectoral effort.
He recalled that the pilot census, initiated in February in some provinces, provided valuable experience and lessons, particularly regarding the development of more precise and clear surveys for farmers and breeders.
Minister Cherfa also noted that the meeting served as an opportunity to review preparations for the 2023-2024 harvest campaign evaluation, which is set to start early in some southern regions, citing Ouargla province where the actual campaign is expected to begin next May.
Moreover, the minister announced an early start to this year’s forest fire prevention and combat campaign, beginning on May 1 instead of June 1, and continuing until October 31, 2024. The decision, made in agreement with the Ministry of Interior, aims to enhance fire risk prevention and minimize associated losses.
Mohamed Tifouri, the Director of Digitization and Forecasting Statistics at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the general census’s strategic importance to the national economy, noting that agriculture is Algeria’s second-largest sector contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after the hydrocarbon sector.
Mr. Tifouri added that 1,200 supervisory staff and 6,000 census agents have been trained for this operation, with 200 to 250 agents allocated for every 250 farms.
In parallel, the Ministry has launched information and awareness campaigns targeting farmers and breeders to build trust and explain the importance of cooperation to ensure the success of the census operation.
“To achieve this, the Ministry has engaged local authorities, governors, and all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the National Chambers of Agriculture, and the National Union of Algerian Farmers,” Tifouri concluded.
For more details on developments in the agriculture sector and updates on the national census, visit dzwatch.dz.
