(Ecofin Agency) - Algeria, due to the recent drought which it experienced, lost about a million hectares of lands used to grow cereals. “Being under water stress, more than a third of areas under cultivation was lost. So harvest will be done on two thirds of areas under cultivation, about 3.3 million hectares,” said Omar Zaghouane, director general of the Technical Instituteof Field Crops.

It should be highlighted that this is the third year in a row that drought affects Algeria’s cereal production. In fact, authorities estimated that the cereal output this year will be the same as last year. However, the good thing is that more certified seeds were used this year. This volume soared from 2.1 million quintals to 2.4 million quintals.

Though authorities see supplementary irrigation as a viable solution, there is only 240,000 hectares equipped with these irrigation systems in the country which is aware of all the efforts is has to gather and of the barriers to implementing this solution. “90% of cultures are smaller than 10 ha, this means these farmers lack the means to fully exploit these lands,” said Omar Zaghouane

Aaron Akinocho