Baladna Algeria Farm Project Begins Production with US Cattle Arrival
The integrated Baladna Algeria giant dairy farm project is set to enter its effective production phase with the anticipated arrival of the first American cattle on November 25, 2026. This significant step, announced by the Algerian-Qatari company, marks a move towards boosting national dairy output and establishing a substantial local production capability.
Located in the wilaya of Adrar across a vast 219,000-hectare site, the mega-farm is designed to house 270,000 cows. The project is an outcome of a $3.5 billion joint investment between Algeria's National Investment Fund (FNI) and the Qatari Baladna group. Upon full operation, it is projected to produce 1.7 billion liters of milk and 193,000 tonnes of milk powder annually, aiming for national food self-sufficiency.
Preparations at the Adrar site are described as complete, with infrastructure including water resources, forage production, hangars, air conditioning systems, and access roads in place to welcome the initial herds for immediate milk production. Contracts for importing the cows from American suppliers were finalized in November 2024. The expansive project has already involved over 1.6 million effective work hours, with 2,580 workers on site in August and 75 companies contributing to its realization. A national recruitment campaign is currently underway, with plans to engage 11,000 individuals by December to support the farm's operations and associated facilities, including a milk powder drying unit whose construction has already been completed.
