Algeria's Minister of Water Resources has officially announced the commencement of the irrigation campaign for the 2026-2027 agricultural season. This vital initiative aims to cover approximately 238,000 hectares of irrigable land across various provinces, allocating over 340 million cubic meters of water to support agricultural areas and bolster crop production.
Algeria irrigation campaign agricultural season
The Minister emphasized that the total water volume designated for the campaign will be distributed strategically among the irrigated agricultural perimeters. This measure is crucial for ensuring the necessary water resources are available to sustain agricultural activities and enhance yield efficiency, contributing significantly to the nation's food security objectives.
Details revealed by the Director-General of the National Office for Irrigation and Drainage (OFID), Nasreddine Rekrouki, indicate that the Relizane province will receive a substantial share of 37 million cubic meters. This allocation includes 17 million cubic meters from the "Es-Saâda" dam in Sidi M'hamed Ben Aouda municipality and 20 million cubic meters from the "Gargar" dam in Ouled Aïche municipality.
The Minister highlighted the importance of maintaining a consistent water supply for both drinking and irrigation purposes. He reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to providing ongoing support to farmers, a move intended to improve agricultural output and strengthen national food self-sufficiency.
Furthermore, the Minister noted that Algeria's water infrastructure, including dams, is currently experiencing comfortable water levels due to favorable rainfall during the current season. This situation is expected to facilitate meeting the diverse water demands across the country.
A strong emphasis was placed on the optimal utilization, conservation, and rationalization of available water resources. This approach is designed to ensure a balance between various water needs while promoting equitable distribution across all regions of Algeria.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Water Resources is actively working on developing new projects to gradually improve the supply of potable water, prioritizing regions based on their specific needs and development plans. The Minister also disclosed that a special program for the summer season is currently under review, developed in coordination with the Ministries of Finance and Water Resources.
Related topics: Algeria agriculture, irrigation campaign, water resources, food security, agricultural development, Algeria
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