Argelia: The potato industry still seeking regulation

Selling for between 120 and 150 DA per kilogram in recent days, this tuber, which is widely consumed by Algerian households, has seen its price rise. 

This is due to a lack of availability during this lean season, pending the arrival of early production starting March 20. However, the Algerian Society for the Regulation of Agricultural Products (Sarpa) and the National Interprofessional Office for Vegetables and Meat (Onilev) have proceeded to destock large quantities of potatoes intended for consumption, at a price capped at 75 DA. 

The objective, through a buffer stock that Onilev is gradually putting on the market, is to cover demand during the Ramadan period and stabilize prices. The operation began on the ground in early March, but the impact has not been effective given the prices displayed on the market, particularly in some local outlets opened for the month of Ramadan. 

This shows the difficulty of regulating a market in the grip of speculation, as illustrated by the seizure this week of 150 tonnes of potatoes stored illegally in Boumerdès. 

This also highlights the need to strengthen production to increase stock levels and ensure regular availability at reasonable prices. During his visit last Monday to the province of Mila, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, Youcef Cherfa, emphasized this point. He stressed the need to achieve the objectives set for the most important agricultural sectors, "including potatoes." 

“Availability must be guaranteed…”

"Availability must be guaranteed throughout the year," he called, quoted by APS. 

Efforts must therefore be made in this context. While there has been an increase in production in recent years, rising from 2.2 million tonnes in 2008 to 6 million tonnes in 2024, disruptions and cyclical crises persist. 

Every year, the issue of regulating the potato market comes up during the lean season, highlighting the urgent need to support the mechanisms in place. But also the need to increase the area cultivated. This area has reached 73,000 hectares (ha) for the 2024-2025 season, more than 10,000 ha compared to the previous season. Above all, there is a need to accelerate the restructuring of the sector. 

This is an issue that the Department of Agriculture is working on. Mr. Cherfa, in this context, brought together professionals in the sector in early February. At the end of this meeting, it was decided to revise the support system for seed multipliers at the request of the professionals. It was also agreed to regularize the payment of the support bonus to potato seed multiplication companies before the end of the first half of 2025. 

It should also be noted that workshops will be organized with the participation of representatives of professionals in this sector and ministry executives. The objective: to discuss all the concerns raised in order to find appropriate solutions. This is to emphasize that much remains to be done to organize this sector, as well as other equally important ones.