[ecr] 

The agreement was signed between the Public Enterprise for the Development of Strategic Agricultural Crops (EPE SPA DCAS), in charge of managing the agricultural production units, PMA Trading (a public company specialized in the production of agricultural equipment), the Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (BADR), which will finance the purchases, as well as the National Agricultural Mutual Insurance Fund (CNMA), as the equipment’s insurer.

The agreement, signed under the supervision of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youcef Cherfa, and the Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun, aims to equip 174 agricultural production units coming under EPE SPA DCAS, covering an area of more than 114,000 hectares, with agricultural equipment produced by PMA Trading, according to the explanations provided on this occasion.

The agreement also stipulates that BADR will finance the operation, while the CNMA will be entrusted with the task of insuring and protecting the agricultural equipment

In a statement to the press on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Cherfa explained that “this agreement, valued at DZD4.2 billion, will enable equipping agricultural production units with high-quality modern equipment manufactured locally,” adding that the acquisition of the equipment will begin “next October.”

Cherfa emphasized that this initiative will assist agricultural units in boosting the production of fruit trees, oilseed plants, seeds, and durum wheat, as part of the national plan for the development of strategic crops.

Aoun noted that “the equipment manufactured by PMA Trading has demonstrated its efficiency and versatility in various uses,” he added that the new agreement is in line with the policy aimed at ensuring food security.[/ecr]