(Ecofin Agency) - Between last January and April, the Algerian government injected $1.17 billion in cereal purchase from international market (durum and soft wheat, semolina and flour). This figure is 16% up from the amount earmarked same period last year, Reuters reports mentioning customs data.

This increase in cereal import value is part of the government’s strategy to boost food budget which stood at $3.16 billion during the period under review, up +4.9% from last year.

Let’s recall that Algeria is world’s third-largest wheat importer after Egypt and Indonesia. The country which produced 3.5 million of cereal in 2017 plans to be durum-self-sufficient by 2020.

Espoir Olodo