Expert Urges Cultivation of 3 Million Hectares of Fallow Land
An expert agronomist has called for the re-activation of over 3 million hectares of fallow land to modernize agriculture and enhance national food security. This initiative aligns with presidential directives to utilize unexploited agricultural areas.
Agronomist Mustapha Benaoui has advocated for bringing over 3 million hectares of fallow land back into production to modernize Algerian agriculture and strengthen national food security. Speaking on Chaîne 3 of Algerian Radio, Mr. Benaoui highlighted that approximately 3.2 million of the country's 8.5 million hectares of useful agricultural land currently lie fallow, representing about 36% compared to an international average of 6 to 10%. This call supports recent instructions from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who mandated against leaving land unexploited based on outdated assumptions, reminding that abandonment of conceded lands can lead to contract termination under Law 10-03.
Mr. Benaoui emphasized that modernizing the sector requires better organizational structures, enhanced mechanization, precision agriculture, supplementary irrigation, and the use of seeds suited to specific regional conditions. He also underscored the critical need for accurate agricultural statistics, noting that current administrative data often fails to reflect actual production developments, citing examples such as Naâma's diversified agriculture and El Oued's significant potato yield. Reliable data is considered essential for effective agricultural planning and resource management.
Agriculture is a strategic sector for the national economy, contributing around 15% to the Gross Domestic Product, employing nearly two million people, and generating an estimated $38 billion in annual wealth. To further enhance productivity and organization, Mr. Benaoui proposed developing agricultural cooperatives to facilitate access to equipment and inputs for producers. He also suggested reorganizing public supply bodies, including the creation of a dedicated office for food legumes to allow the Algerian Interprofessional Office of Cereals (OAIC) to focus more on cereal management. These integrated measures are aimed at building a modern, productive agricultural system capable of ensuring long-term food security for the country.
