Algeria Counts Over 1000 Premium Date Varieties, Launches Ambitious Date Palm Program
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Algeria, a major player in the global date market, has officially recorded more than 1000 varieties of premium-quality dates, as announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Abdelhafid Henni, during his address at the International Date Exhibition in Algiers on Wednesday.
Minister Henni unveiled an ambitious program designed to propel the date palm sector to new heights. He disclosed plans for the plantation of one million date palms by 2024, with an anticipated production exceeding 15 million quintals for the current year. Emphasizing the critical role of the date palm industry in the national economy and export development, he also outlined the incorporation of innovative techniques to enhance production and address prevalent diseases.
Algeria, already recognized for its diverse date offerings, aims to significantly expand its date palm cultivation, leveraging its favorable climate and soil conditions. The comprehensive program aligns with the nation’s strategic vision for economic growth and increased participation in the global date market.
Minister Henni stated, “We have identified more than 19 million date palms, of which 16,390,521 are in the productive phase, yielding nearly 11 million quintals in 2021 and 2022.”
Addressing the exceptional quality of Algerian dates, Minister of Commerce Mr. Tayeb Zitouni affirmed that the country produces the finest dates globally. “We have the best dates in the world, highly sought after abroad,” he declared. The minister highlighted the economic impact of date exports, revealing that Algerian date exports generated a substantial $75 million in revenue in 2021.
Algeria’s commitment to fostering agricultural innovation and enhancing the date palm sector underscores the nation’s pivotal role in the global date industry. The rich variety and quality of Algerian dates continue to position the country as a key player in meeting international demand for this prized fruit.
