• Algeria plans to offer interest-free loans up to 150 million dinars to small-scale farmers to build refrigerated storage.

• The loans will have a 10-year repayment period with a five-year grace, encouraging investment in cold chain infrastructure.

• The government aims to reduce food losses, stabilize markets, and improve farmers’ incomes through better storage.

Post-harvest losses continue to pose a significant challenge across Africa. In Algeria, where agriculture accounts for 13% of GDP, the government is preparing a new financing scheme to speed up investments in its food cold chain.

Agriculture Minister Youssef Cherfa announced the plan on July 14, 2025. He said officials will soon sign a deal with all banks, supported by the Ministry of Finance and the Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions. The agreement should be finalized by the end of July.

The government will offer interest-free loans of up to 150 million dinars (about $1.15 million) mainly to small-scale farmers. The loans will have a 10-year repayment term. Borrowers will enjoy a five-year repayment holiday before starting payments.

Farmers can use these funds to build refrigerated storage units between 300 and 5,000 square meters. The units will vary to meet the specific needs of different agricultural regions. The goal is to increase farmers’ role in setting up storage infrastructure, which currently remains inadequate in Algeria.

The government wants to cut post-harvest losses by growing the country’s refrigerated storage capacity. It also intends to give farmers more control over agricultural supply on local markets.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights that cold chain development can boost small farmers’ incomes worldwide. Post-harvest losses reduce their earnings by up to 15% every year.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum