Experts Laud Plan for Digitalized, Climate-Adaptive Farm Law
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has directed the preparation of a new, more efficient agricultural orientation law, a move experts highlight as crucial for modernizing the sector. This legislative initiative is designed to update the regulatory framework for agricultural activity, enabling it to adapt to current transformations. The law aims to rebuild agricultural policy on precise data, identify production needs, and allocate appropriate land for specific crops, while strengthening digitalization and scientific research across the farming sector. It also focuses on adapting agricultural practices to climate change and fostering investment in food industries.
Agricultural experts underscore that the revised law will significantly contribute to enhancing national food security by reducing reliance on external strategic products. Lalla Boukhalfa, an agricultural expert, noted that the review facilitates improved planning through accurate assessments of potential and regional specificities. This will help create a national agricultural map, guiding cultivation towards crops suited to land types and national requirements, thereby optimizing land use and increasing production yields, especially for strategic crops. The law also emphasizes the importance of precise, up-to-date production data, regular monitoring of harvest campaigns, and monthly bulletins, integrating the National Statistics Office, digitalization, and field monitoring to establish a robust information base.
Ahmed Malha, another expert, affirmed the revision's importance, citing recent sector transformations driven by climate change and technological advancements. He noted that updating the text will meet new phase requirements and promote the sustainability of agricultural activities, further strengthening food security. To support these goals, President Tebboune's directives include the immediate digitalization of payment systems for agricultural crops at the Algerian Professional Office for Cereals (OAIC) regional agencies, and the launch of a national program for soil surveying, analysis, and classification of agricultural land. These measures, alongside promoting precision agriculture, modern mechanization, and investment in agricultural technology and research, are considered vital for building an efficient and sustainable agricultural system capable of boosting national production and competitiveness.
