Algerian-Saudi Partnership in Agricultural Reclamation
The Algerian-Saudi partnership in the field of agricultural reclamation, especially strategic crops in the wilaya of El Meniaa (southern Algeria), is a pioneering experience given the results achieved during the past agricultural seasons, as well as the objectives set to expand this important agricultural investment over vast areas in this city, which is on its way to becoming an agricultural hub in the south, according to the Directorate of Agricultural Services on Friday.
In this regard, the joint venture (Algerian-Saudi) of the limited liability company between Bounaama Abdelkrim and Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz al Saud in the production of grains, fodder and dates has an added economic value that enhances the agricultural production capacities in Algeria, especially in the field of grain production (durum wheat seeds) on an area of 800 hectares, and fodder of various types (clover, straw, fodder corn in addition to grain corn), for which an area of 500 hectares has been allocated, in addition to the production of dates (Deglet Nour and Ghars) and livestock breeding, according to the same source.
This important investment project, located in the agricultural environment called “Meshgardel” in the municipality of Hassi Gara, covers a total area of 5,000 hectares, which was granted within the framework of the farm concession, as explained. The investment project was first launched in 2018 by starting to consolidate public works and initial development after completing all administrative procedures, most notably benefiting from the agricultural concession contract, as well as granting 30 licenses to drill artesian wells, 20 have been completed, with 10 more wells scheduled for the coming year, according to the project’s technical card.
This agricultural project currently has irrigation equipment consisting of 20 pivot sprinklers covering an area of 40 hectares each, in addition to drip irrigation technology covering an area of 20 hectares dedicated to planting trees and palm trees. The project also includes an equipped living base covering an area of 1,000 square meters, and a warehouse with a capacity of 1,600 square meters.
The same project recently benefited from connecting to the electrical grid, which consists of installing 12 electrical transformers with a production capacity estimated at 160-kilovolt amperes for each transformer. Eight other transformers will be installed in the coming few months, as indicated.
The organizers of this agricultural project are looking forward to expanding the irrigated areas to achieve the desired goal, which is to produce between 125,000 and 150,000 quintals of hard and soft wheat seeds. They note that more than 65,000 quintals of hard wheat seeds were produced during the past year, which was directed to the Algerian Professional Office of Cereals.
Algerian-Saudi relations “Opportunities and challenges”
The people in charge of this agricultural investment also aspire to grow dry legumes (lentils and chickpeas) in large areas with the possibility of installing about 80 pivot spraying machines on an area of 40 hectares, in addition to establishing barns for raising cows, after purchasing 500 dairy cows and allocating an area of 200 hectares to grow corn, in addition to growing more than 3,000 hectares of grains, as the Algerian partner Bounaama Abdelkrim explained to the Algerian Press Service.
Agricultural investment in the field of strategic crops has witnessed “remarkable” growth in recent years in the city of El Meniaa, thanks to the incentives provided by the Algerian law on investment, and its encouragement of partnership opportunities in the agricultural field, as an area of 6,811 hectares has been allocated for foreign investment in the same field in the wilaya, which will launch strategic agricultural projects in the region, thus contributing to the promotion of employment opportunities, the acquisition of expertise and the achievement of food security goals, according to the explanations of the Directorate of Agricultural Services.
