Algeria Aims to End Seed Imports to Bolster Food Security
Image: TSA
Takeaway
The Algerian government's push to end seed imports presents opportunities for international agritech companies specializing in seed technology, irrigation, and precision agriculture. Investors should monitor the development of the Ghardaïa and El-Menia seed production hub and potential partnerships with Algerian agricultural entities. Success in this initiative could reduce Algeria's reliance on foreign suppliers and create new export opportunities.
Algeria is implementing an ambitious program to gradually eliminate imports of seeds and saplings, announced by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid on Thursday, February 27, 2026, in Blida. The initiative is designed to strengthen national food security, reduce the country's import bill, and enhance domestic agricultural production, with a particular focus on horticultural crops. Governor Djamel-Eddine Hashas accompanied Minister Oualid during the working visit and inspection tour in Blida.
This program aligns with Algeria's broader strategy to achieve food self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imports, which accounted for almost one-third of all imports in 1997, totaling $2.8 billion. In 2002, the government launched the National Agricultural and Rural Development Programme (PNDAR) to modernize farms, expand irrigation, increase arable land, and promote investments in the agricultural sector. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has emphasized the importance of food security and has implemented strategies to transform food systems, including allocating 400,000 hectares to Saharan agriculture, with a goal of reaching one million hectares by 2025.
The Ministry of Agriculture is prioritizing the integration of technology into the agricultural sector, particularly for local seed and sapling production, with the aim of eventually exporting these products. Preparations are underway to establish a dedicated seed production hub spanning the wilayas of Ghardaïa and El-Menia to strengthen local production capacity. Minister Oualid has praised Blida as a model for integrating technology and scientific research in agriculture, highlighting farms that have adopted modern irrigation techniques, high-quality fertilizers, and advanced planting methods.
The program is expected to reduce production costs and enhance competitiveness in export markets through investments in technology and scientific research. The development of additional agricultural value chains, including fruit varieties like banana saplings, is also underway. Algeria has allocated a $6 billion budget to modernize its agriculture sector in 2026, a 4% increase from the previous year, focusing on technology, irrigation, and post-harvest efficiency. In November 2025, Minister Oualid stated that the government had authorized public expenditure commitments totaling 764.2 billion dinars (~$5.84 billion).
Looking ahead, the success of this program hinges on the effective implementation of technology and scientific research in agricultural activities. Key factors to watch include the establishment and operation of the seed production hub in Ghardaïa and El-Menia, as well as the development of other agricultural sectors, such as fruit varieties. Continued investment in modern irrigation and efficient farming methods will also be crucial for achieving food security and reducing the import bill.