Adrar Integrated Project Marks 28% Completion for Dairy Production
The Baladna Algérie integrated powdered milk factory in Adrar has reached 28% completion in its construction. This joint Algerian-Qatari investment, valued at an estimated $3.5 billion, is designed to enhance national capabilities in powdered milk production and contribute to strengthening food security. The project is a strategic initiative for Algeria, aiming to reduce import dependency and develop the country's dairy sector.
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, Sid Ali Khaldi, recently inspected various components of the project in the Adrar wilaya. During his visit, the Minister reviewed the construction progress of the powdered milk factory at Timokten and the bovine isolation and quarantine enclosure near the Adrar aerodrome. Preparations are actively underway for the arrival of the first dairy cows, expected from the United States later this November, as part of a larger plan to import 30,000 bovines over ten months via an air bridge from nine American states.
Spanning 219,000 hectares, the Baladna Algérie project is an integrated value chain model combining agricultural development, animal feed cultivation, bovine farming, and industrial milk processing. It targets establishing a herd of 224,000 cattle and achieving an annual milk production of 1.7 billion liters, alongside the development of red meat production. The initiative also anticipates creating 1,000 direct jobs in 2027, with a long-term projection of 5,000 direct employment opportunities, further underscoring its significant economic and social contributions to the region and the nation. The ministry affirmed its commitment to technical support and veterinary oversight for this strategic endeavor.
