The agricultural sector is recovering: Expected growth of 5.1% and improvement in grain and pasture production
The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, Ahmed Bouwari, announced that the agricultural sector is on track to achieve a growth rate of 5.1% during the current season, compared to a contraction of -4.8% in the previous agricultural season. He noted that the current season is characterized as “variable” due to the uneven rainfall.
During a question-and-answer session at the House of Councillors, Bouwari revealed that the improvement in grain and pasture production, alongside the strong performance of various production chains, will contribute to achieving this growth rate, which is expected to revive the agricultural job market affected by consecutive years of drought.
The minister explained that recent rainfall has renewed farmers’ hopes and improved the overall indicators for the season, with the main grain harvest expected to reach 4.4 million tons, an increase of 41% compared to last year. As of now, the harvest rate stands at 21% of the planted area.
Bouwari emphasized that these indicators reflect the resilience and strength of the agricultural sector, as well as the persistence of farmers and stakeholders in the field. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to continue supporting agricultural chains to enhance supply and production.
The minister indicated that the area for major autumn crops reached 3.11 million hectares, of which 11% is irrigated. This includes 2.6 million hectares of grains, 400,000 hectares of fodder crops, and 100,000 hectares of legumes, while the spring crops area totals approximately 158,000 hectares.
He described the current agricultural season as “variable,” explaining that it has been marked by early rains in October, followed by a period of drought between November and February, which limited planted areas, before conditions improved thanks to the rains and snow in March that positively contributed to the season.
The minister reported that precipitation levels until June 5 reached 302 millimeters, a decrease of 23% compared to an average year, yet an increase of 14% compared to last season. The volume of water in reservoirs dedicated to agriculture rose to 5.2 billion cubic meters, compared to 4.38 billion cubic meters last year, achieving a filling rate of 37% compared to 30% previously.
There has been a notable improvement in vegetation cover, which helped boost the yield of autumn crops in suitable areas and gave a strong impetus to spring crops, particularly legumes and oilseeds, helping to improve the status of the national herd and support livestock affected by drought.
The minister mentioned that the ministry has implemented several parallel measures, including selling 740,000 quintals of selected seeds, an increase of 10% over the previous season, and providing 1.3 million quintals of nitrogen fertilizers to 78,000 beneficiaries. Additionally, approximately 661,000 hectares out of a planned one million hectares were insured under multi-risk weather insurance to bolster resilience.
The area planted with spring crops reached about 187,000 hectares, while favorable weather conditions contributed to executing the vegetable production acceleration program, with an achievement rate exceeding 104%, equivalent to 73,200 hectares, ensuring sufficient quantities to meet national consumption needs.
