Algeria food bill goes down to $2.5 billion in 2010

Algeria’s food imports fell down to $5.2 billion in 2010 compared to $5.4 billion in 2009 and $8 billion in 2008, said agriculture minister Sunday.

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  The fall is due to the decrease of wheat imports since 2009. “This fall happened because we have not imported wheat since April 2009.”

  According to Rachid Ben Aissa, the Algerian Professional Office of Grains is supposed to import $800 million this year. Wheat imports should reach $1.5 billion in 2010.

  “Algerian people have consumed 4 billion litres of milk and 1 billion of its by-products since the beginning of 2010,” the minister told a national radio.

  Speaking about milk branch, he said 69 dairies committed to collect fresh milk. “Other 42 units will benefit from measures meant to their integration in the arrangement of the national production development until September 2011. They will also benefit from subsidised milk powder but not with the same usual rate.”