Algeria to Import Agricultural Machinery to Boost Farming Sector

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered the immediate import of agricultural machinery to accelerate Algeria’s farming development and ensure food security.

During the Council of Ministers meeting held on Sunday, November 2, President Tebboune instructed the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries to coordinate with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion to start importing harvesters and seeding machines immediately. The directive also allows the importation of second-hand machinery—less than five years old—for harvesting corn and oilseeds, including sunflower.

According to a statement from the Presidency, this decision aims to address the shortage of essential agricultural equipment and support the mechanization of Algeria’s vast agricultural zones. It follows the launch of several major projects in partnership with international investors, such as the Italian BF Group’s wheat and legume project in Timimoune and Qatar’s Baladna mega farm in Adrar for powdered milk and livestock feed production.

President Tebboune also called for a comprehensive reform of the agriculture sector, just days after a national conference on modernization. He ordered the government to draft a new agricultural framework law that will reorganize the sector through a forward-looking and expert-driven approach.

Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy Mourad Ladjal reported during the same meeting that over 100,000 agricultural holdings have been connected to the national electricity grid. Energy infrastructure has also been expanded to support major investment projects, including Baladna’s 270,000-cow farm in Adrar, Cevital’s sugar beet cultivation project in Hassi L’fhel (El Ménéa), and the BF Group’s wheat initiative in Timimoune.

Algeria’s new measures mark a decisive step toward modernizing agriculture, strengthening food security, and attracting foreign investment into its strategic farming projects.