The National Chamber of Agriculture in Algeria has unveiled a series of emergency measures aimed at controlling prices of widely consumed agricultural products and ensuring the stability of production. This follows a meeting between the Prime Minister and representatives of the agricultural community, held during a session of the National Council of Agriculture. These measures are part of the state's efforts to protect citizens' purchasing power and support farmers.
The measures aim to combat speculation and limit the intervention of intermediaries who contribute to price hikes. The National Chamber of Agriculture emphasized that it will not tolerate practices that harm both farmers and consumers, stressing the adoption of an acceptable profit margin that considers the public interest. The Chamber also called for encouraging direct sales from farmers to consumers.
The initiative seeks to enable producers to access wholesale markets and sales spaces, allowing them to reduce the number of intermediaries and curb speculation. For potatoes, a price of 60-70 Algerian dinars per kilogram has been set at the field level, while the wholesale market price is set between 80-90 Algerian dinars per kilogram. The authorities have also urged the release of potato stocks.
Various stages of the supply chain will be subject to monitoring, from the field to the consumer, with price developments tracked and interventions made when imbalances are recorded. A vigilance and monitoring cell, comprising representatives from the agricultural community, will be established under the Prime Minister's supervision to oversee the roadmap and market regulation.
The cell will hold regular meetings and maintain coordination among various stakeholders. The state has confirmed its commitment to continuing support for farmers and ensuring the provision of necessary production inputs and tools for sustained agricultural activity. Financially, measures include immediate settlement of debts owed by agricultural operators to SARPA.
An instruction has been issued to public banks to accelerate financing for various agricultural sectors. The study of financing files will be facilitated, and processing deadlines will be shortened, allowing farmers to obtain financing under more favorable conditions and supporting their ability to continue production. No taxes will be imposed on farmers, and no on-site inspections will be conducted after production begins.
The measures emphasize the importance of ensuring the availability of agricultural inputs and production tools in a timely manner. A green channel will be established for imported agricultural inputs and tools, whether related to plant or animal sectors. The Ministry of Agriculture, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Trade, will exempt these materials from registration in the digital registry.
Key points
- Algeria's government has introduced measures to control prices of widely consumed agricultural products and ensure market stability.
- The measures aim to combat speculation, support farmers, and facilitate financing and production inputs.
- A vigilance and monitoring cell will be established to oversee market regulation and track price developments.
