Tebboune Unveils National Agricultural Hubs Strategy
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has initiated a transformative national strategy focused on establishing major agricultural hubs across Algeria, aimed at enhancing food security and modernizing the sector. The directive, issued during a recent cabinet meeting, calls for a reevaluation of the Algerian Professional Office for Cereals (OAIC) and a comprehensive modernization of specialized agricultural institutes. This presidential decision seeks to shift Algerian agriculture from traditional administrative methods towards precise economic and scientific management, establishing a new foundation for the sector's growth.
Mubarak Ben Jedi, President of the Algerian Organization of Producer and Processor Farmers, lauded the directives as a pivotal moment marking the end of agricultural bureaucracy and the dawn of a new era driven by data and field efficiency. According to Ben Jedi, the OAIC is set to evolve beyond its traditional role of mere collection and import management, becoming a key driver for national food security. He highlighted the immediate digitization of payment systems and meticulous monitoring of collection and storage processes as crucial steps to ensure transparency, combat manipulation, and rebuild trust between farmers and state institutions, ultimately reducing import expenditures and reinforcing national sovereignty.
On the technical front, Ben Jedi emphasized that the President's instructions place agricultural institutes and research centers at the forefront of modernizing farming practices. He stated that contemporary agriculture necessitates scientific input directly in the field, moving away from office-bound management. The call to update these institutes will see researchers and engineers actively engaging with farmers and investors, providing guidance based on precise scientific data to boost yields in major agricultural crops. This approach is intended to equip the sector with innovative solutions for climate change and water stress, including the development of drought-resistant seeds and water-efficient irrigation techniques, thereby significantly increasing overall national agricultural production towards comprehensive food self-sufficiency.
This dual institutional modernization is considered fundamental for the success of creating integrated agricultural and industrial poles. Linking scientifically supported agricultural production directly with processing industries will ensure the absorption of surpluses, generate added value, and secure appropriate incomes for farmers. Ben Jedi described this presidential approach as a clear roadmap, affirming that sustainable food security requires strong, transparent, and technologically advanced institutions, calling for the full involvement of all stakeholders to translate these directives into tangible realities that restore farmers' standing and strengthen the national economy's sovereignty.
