[ecr]

In a speech he gave at the opening of the national meetings with investors benefiting from agricultural lands under the concession system, at the Office for the Development of Industrial Agriculture in the Saharan Land (ODAS), Cherfa emphasized that 300,000 hectares of land have been dedicated to oilseed crops, as part of the national plan for the development of strategic crops, with the goal of "producing 100% Algerian table oil and potentially expanding into exports in the future."

This plan aims to develop over one (1) million hectares of land in the southern provinces by 2028, with 500,000 hectares allocated for cereals and barley production, 220,000 hectares for corn, and 20,000 hectares for vegetables.

This plan will contribute to “achieving food security and reducing the import bill, while also establishing a strategic reserve to address crises and climate disruptions,” the minister said, affirming that “this is a significant investment” in terms of production, processing, and storage.

“2025 will be the last year Algeria imports durum wheat,” the minister also emphasized, calling on investors who have been granted agricultural lands to cultivate them in order to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production, especially since national production currently covers 80% of local demand.[/ecr]