Hambali: Investment in the south will allow the creation of industrial poles – Algerian Dialogue

Mohamed Yazid Hambali, President of the National Chamber of Agriculture, confirmed that the country’s higher authorities decided to expand the cultivated areas in the southern states to one million hectares as part of a true national strategy to ensure food security and confront the repercussions of climate change in the Mediterranean basin countries in recent decades, which have severely affected the areas north of the country.

Hambali said in an interview on the Algerian Radio One channel, this Monday, within the “Forum One” program, that the Algerian state seeks to expand the cultivated areas and exploit all available national capabilities and capacities in light of the fact that the regions located in the north of the country, or rather the agricultural areas located in the north of the country, no longer meet the needs of The population due to increasing demographic growth, which currently does not exceed 8 million hectares.

The radio guest considered the trend towards expanding cultivated areas in the Sahara region a rational and practical option, especially since these areas are rich in fresh groundwater and contain the largest water reserves in the world. He added, “Algeria today needs to develop and expand large, structured farms that are in line with internationally applicable standards.” In the field of modern agriculture, which is based on the use of mechanization and all technical means, and the need to take into account respect for the agricultural cycle.”

He continued, saying, “We are currently working to encourage large areas in desert areas and intensify major structural investments to meet the country’s growing needs. The biggest title of this new vision is the launch of the large investment project concluded with the Qatari company “Baladna,” which will allow the establishment of the largest milk production farm in the Maghreb region and the raising of 250,000. cow, which will enable it to cover 50 percent of the country’s milk needs within the coming years.”

He went on to say, “The project will also allow for an increase in the number of cows, meat production, and the development of some complementary industries, including the food, fodder, and hay industry. It will result in the formation and emergence of new industrial poles in the desert areas, which will contribute to the development of the Greater South regions, which may not have been given great importance in the past.”

Within this context, the President of the National Chamber of Agriculture revealed the presence of a strong will to push investments and open the way for large investors in farms exceeding 10,000 hectares or more, the features of which were evident through the legal arsenal that was enacted to accompany this process, including the establishment of the National Office for Desert Agriculture for the purpose of facilitating access to On desert lands, access to investment, and combating bureaucracy that is hostile to investments in general and foreign investments in particular.”

Hambali pointed out that Naama was chosen to host the first national forum for strategic agriculture for several considerations, including the fact that it is a steppe state located in the far west and has border areas with a number of southern states extending deep into the Sahara desert. It is also rich in animal production since ancient times, especially sheep raising.

He explained, “The idea of ​​organizing the national forum was to think about how to value and how to preserve the national breed of Daghma Banaama sheep, which is known for its distinguished meat and was widely exported to European countries. Today we believe that the time has come to restore respect for this breed and work for its development in this region.” “.