In addition to clearly expressing its plans to clean up its industrial land sector, the Algerian government also plans to do the same in its agricultural land sector. This is as 69% of these lands, which were awarded to private investors to be used and made profitable, are unused.

“853,000 hectares which were awarded to 19,000 concessionaires, in the framework of a scheme to develop new farming and husbandry zones launched in 2008. Out of these, only 263,000 hectares or 31% have been put to use. Worse even, in addition to awarding the lands, public authorities disbursed 3.4 billion dinars for necessary studies,” denounced the minister of agriculture, rural development and fishery, Abdelkader Bouazgui (picture), cited by news website L’Expression.   

The official who was then expressing himself during a panel on food security and agribusiness, added that a structure was put in place to restore the industry which is crippled by a “mafia”. “We just put in place a structure consisting of various commissions established in all of the country’s wilayas; these are in charge of identifying all agricultural lands awarded in the past 5 to 10 years but are not being exploited up till now. We will proceed to a full clean-up, to let those that are willing to invest in our agriculture to valorize the lands,” the minister promised.