ALGERIA: Algerian farmers optimistic about improved grain harvest despite bad weather earlier in the year

Record ID: 574203

  • Title: ALGERIA: Algerian farmers optimistic about improved grain harvest despite bad weather earlier in the year
  • Date: 21st July 2013
  • Summary: BERROUAGHIA, ALGERIA (JULY 15, 2013) (REUTERS) HILLS IN TOWN FARMER WITH FLOCK OF SHEEP VARIOUS OF FARM LAND COMBINE HARVESTERS ON FARM VARIOUS OF FARMER ZOUBIRI HAKIM ON COMBINE HARVESTER VARIOUS OF COMBINE HARVESTERS ON LAND VARIOUS OF CROPS COMBINE HARVESTERS HARVESTING ON LAND (SOUNDBITE) (French) FARMER, ZOUBIRI HAKIM, SAYING: "We had a partnership with the experimental farm of the state, we have a common aim "winner, winner", so we take care of fodder and grain production and livestock, we are a group of young people with a common professional interest who are using this opportunity. The future is agriculture, agriculture will be the future, to go back to the soil, because all the wealth can disappear except from agriculture that exists since the creation of the world. I am very happy with this season because in my opinion the yield would be great, there will be a competitive yield that we can reach 40 to 50 Quintals per hectare, God willing." VARIOUS OF COMBINE HARVESTERS VARIOUS OF FARMERS PACKING WHEAT INTO WHITE BAGS (SOUNDBITE) (FRENCH) DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION AT ALGERIA'S AGRICULTURE MINISTRY, DJAMEL BARCHICHE, SAYING: "The trust that these farmers gained motivates them to work more and win more, due primarily to the politics of agriculture that was launched in 2009 by his Excellency the President of the Republic and applied by the doctor Rachid Benaissa, now the land issue is solved, the financial issue is solved, the only fact remaining is the personal initiative of agriculture." EXTERIOR OF ENTRANCE TO ALGERIA'S STATE GRAINS AGENCY OAIC TRUCK FULL OF BAGS OF WHEAT REVERSING WORKERS EMPTYING BAGS FROM TRUCK INTO CONTAINERS (SOUNDBITE) (ARABIC) AGRONOMIST AT ALGERIA'S STATE GRAINS AGENCY OAIC , MESTOURI MUSTAPHA, SAYING: "I can say that we have reached the average of 25 quintals per hectare, and as an example these workers or these partners today brought the production and we did some forecasts and we are expecting about 40 to 42 quintals per hectare and the results are getting better, God willing." VARIOUS OF BAGS OF WHEAT ARRIVING AT OAIC CENTRE
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Business,Environment,General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAWFBYR4JSDFXUMHH20332NN7L
  • Story Text: Algeria, one of the world's biggest grain importers, benefited from increased rains this year, and the government expects output to be better than last year.
    Algeria did not have sufficient rainfall during grain sowing season, but favourable weather during March-April raised expectations for a much improved domestic harvest this year.
    With a population of 35 million, Algeria is one of the world's biggest importers of grain at an average of 5 million tonnes in the past five years, including a peak of 7.4 million tonnes in 2011 and 6.9 million in 2012.
    Observers say the Algerian grain crop needs rain during two periods - the sowing season, when moisture is needed to create the right soil conditions for the seed to develop and in March to April to ensure the plants mature properly.
    A programme set up by the government in 2009 supports farmers with their harvest and is hoping to raise Algeria's grain production each year.
    The programme provides farmers with land and low cost materials, as well as training and farming advice from experts.
    Thirty five-year-old farmer Hakim Zoubiri is a former veterinarian who turned to agriculture, which he says provides a good economic opportunity.
    The government gave Hakim an old farm in the town of Berrouaghia and he then shares his harvest income with the state.
    "We had a partnership with the experimental farm of the state, we have a common aim "winner, winner", so we take care of fodder and grain production and livestock, we are a group of young people with a common professional interest who are using this opportunity. The future is agriculture, agriculture will be the future, to go back to the soil, because all the wealth can disappear except from agriculture that exists since the creation of the world. I am very happy with this season because in my opinion the yield would be great, there will be a competitive yield that we can reach 40 to 50 Quintals per hectare, God willing," he said.
    In addition to government help, in 2009 Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika wiped the debts of farmers, encouraging more people to turn to agriculture.
    "The trust that these farmers gained motivates them to work more and win more, due primarily to the politics of agriculture that was launched in 2009 by his Excellency the President of the Republic and applied by the doctor Rachid Benaissa, now the land issue is solved, the financial issue is solved, the only fact remaining is the personal initiative of agriculture," said Djamel Barchiche, Director of Communication at Algeria's Agriculture Ministry.
    An agronomist at Algeria's state grains agency OAIC said that grain harvest forecasts were positive for this year.
    "I can say that we have reached the average of 25 quintals per hectare, and as an example these workers or these partners today brought the production and we did some forecasts and we are expecting about 40 to 42 quintals per hectare and the results are getting better, God willing," said Mestouri Mustapha.
    Official figures showed average yields of 17 quintals (1,700 kg) per hectare last year.
    Algeria's best harvest of the past few years was registered in 2009 at 6.1 million tonnes, but the average of the last five years was around 4.5 million tonnes, which compares with estimated annual consumption of around 7 million tonnes, according to official figures.
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