Strengthening Algeria’s Food Security: Tebboune’s Vision Materializes through Italian, Qatari Partnerships
✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | August 22nd, 2024 — Abdelkader Bengrina, leader of the El-Bina Movement, underscored his support for independent presidential candidate Abdelmadjid Tebboune by spotlighting two pivotal achievements within Tebboune’s broader strategy to bolster Algeria’s food security. These accomplishments, arising from international partnerships with Italy and Qatar, exemplify Tebboune’s commitment to advancing agricultural development and economic sustainability for the nation.
Italian-Algerian Collaboration: A Transformational Agricultural Initiative
One of the key initiatives reflecting Tebboune’s dedication to food security is the large-scale Italian-Algerian agricultural project, born out of Tebboune’s recent diplomatic visit to Italy. This ambitious venture, a partnership between Algeria’s National Investment Fund (CNI) and Italy’s BF company, aims to revitalize 36,000 hectares of agricultural land, with an estimated investment of €420 million.
The initiative will allocate 35,450 hectares for the cultivation of essential crops, including durum wheat and pulses, such as lentils, chickpeas, and dried beans, while an additional 550 hectares will be set aside for critical infrastructure. This includes the construction of a pasta manufacturing plant, a specialized grain mill for durum wheat, and extensive storage facilities to preserve grain stockpiles. This project will not only elevate Algeria’s agricultural output but is also poised to significantly contribute to the country’s economy, creating 6,700 jobs, with 1,600 permanent positions and 5,100 temporary roles.
Project implementation is expected to commence soon, with cultivation anticipated to begin by the end of the year. This large-scale agricultural initiative dovetails with Tebboune’s overarching objectives of diversifying Algeria’s economy and ensuring the nation’s long-term food security.
Qatari-Algerian Cooperation: The Baladna Initiative
Another linchpin of Algeria’s agricultural resurgence is the Qatari-Algerian project known as Baladna, which represents a $3.5 billion investment. This extensive initiative will span 117,000 hectares in the Adrar region, with the first phase scheduled to commence in October 2024, focusing on establishing a farm for animal feed production.
The project’s second phase will introduce 50,000 dairy cows, with the herd projected to expand to 270,000 head of cattle by the ninth year. Upon reaching full capacity, the project aims to produce 1.7 billion liters of milk annually, meeting 50% of Algeria’s domestic demand for powdered milk. A milk powder processing plant is also planned, reducing the country’s dependence on imports and fortifying its self-sufficiency.
The Baladna project is expected to generate 5,000 permanent jobs for Algerians while also enhancing the local meat supply with high-quality red meat. By leveraging Qatar’s expertise in livestock management, where cows average a production of 40 liters of milk per day, the initiative promises to elevate Algeria’s livestock sector and introduce advanced agricultural techniques.
Catalyzing Economic Transformation
Both the Italian-Algerian and Qatari-Algerian partnerships are key pillars of Tebboune’s broader economic transformation plan, which emphasizes self-sufficiency, job creation, and diversification away from oil dependency. Through these international collaborations, Tebboune is laying the groundwork for Algeria to transition toward a more productive and export-oriented agricultural economy.
These projects highlight Tebboune’s proactive measures to combat global food insecurity by investing in sustainable agricultural infrastructure. They not only aim to safeguard Algeria’s food security but also position the country as a competitive player in regional and international markets.
As Bengrina has noted, these initiatives exemplify the visionary leadership of Tebboune’s administration in building a “New Algeria” that is economically resilient, agriculturally self-reliant, and prepared to transcend its historical reliance on oil revenues.
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