Adrar Hosts National Forum on Strengthening Algeria’s Strategic Cereal Sector
Adrar, Algeria — Against the backdrop of growing national ambitions for food security and agricultural modernization, the National Agricultural Mutual Fund (CNMA) convened a strategic forum this Monday in Adrar, focusing on the sustainable development and risk management of Algeria’s cereal sector.
Under the theme “Securing and Sustaining the Cereal Sector: Challenges, Stakes, and Strategic Levers,” the event brought together stakeholders from across the agricultural value chain. Participants included representatives from the National Interprofessional Council for Cereals (CNIF), agribusinesses, banking institutions, the Algerian Space Agency, academic and training institutes, as well as cereal farmers and agricultural service directors from the southern wilayas of Adrar, In Salah, El Bayadh, Naâma, Béchar, Menia, and Timimoun.
The forum sought to raise awareness among cereal producers about the critical role insurance and scientific innovation play in safeguarding agricultural output in the face of climate variability, water scarcity, and market instability. Throughout the day, experts, university professors, and professionals delivered technical presentations addressing sustainability, productivity, and resilience in cereal cultivation.
A notable highlight was the participation of the Algerian Space Agency, whose experts showcased satellite-based solutions for agricultural monitoring and risk prevention—underscoring the increasing role of geospatial technologies in modern agronomy.
In a parallel session, a landmark partnership agreement was signed between the CNMA’s regional branch in Adrar and the National School of Saharan Agriculture. This accord is set to facilitate cooperation in agricultural risk management, joint training programs, scientific research, and rural development initiatives.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to reinforcing agricultural resilience in the South and creating new opportunities for knowledge-sharing and capacity-building,” a CNMA representative stated.
The forum also reaffirmed CNMA’s support for young entrepreneurs, particularly those benefiting from loans issued by the National Agency for Entrepreneurship Development (NESDA). The institution pledged to help cultivate a more favorable ecosystem for project holders in agriculture, through tailored risk management tools and advisory services.
Policy recommendations emerging from the forum will be submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, contributing to national efforts to revitalize cereal production.
The Ministry has set ambitious targets for the 2024–2025 season, including the cultivation of 3.2 million hectares nationwide and the distribution of 5.2 million quintals of certified seed. In southern regions, yields are expected to exceed 55 quintals per hectare, following a presidential directive to expand cereal cultivation in the South to 500,000 hectares—up from the current 106,000 hectares.
Southern Algeria produced four million quintals of cereals in the last season, achieving 96% of its targeted output, with average yields ranging from 47 to 51 quintals per hectare.
Adrar, endowed with vast arable land and favorable agro-climatic conditions, is increasingly positioning itself as a national hub for cereal production. Local officials and stakeholders expressed confidence in the region’s potential to play a pivotal role in achieving Algeria’s long-term food security goals.
