Algeria. Grain and Feed Update Sept. 22, 2016

Highlights

According to the Ministry of Agriculture's crop assessment, Algeria's MY2016/2017 grain production reached 3.3 MMT compared to 4.0 MMT the previous year. Once again, the results are directly attributable to drought conditions in the production areas of Algeria. As in previous years when drought has so hampered grain production, Algeria will likely import grain to compensate for the shortfall in domestic production.

General Information

The Ministry of Agriculture reported an 11 percent decline in MY2016/2017 grain production. Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Chelghoum Abdeslam announced that the current grain crop only reached 3.3 MMT compared to 4.0 MMT last year. No official figures have been published. Minister Chelghoum attributed the decrease in cereal production (durum, barley and bread wheat) primarily to the drought that affected various major grain producing areas, meanwhile western Algeria, was particularly affected (40 percent) by ice storms. Note, this is the third consecutive year that cereal production has been affected by drought.

According to Algeria's field crops institute, two-thirds of the 3.3 million hectares planted were harvested. As might be expected based on historical trends, farmers planted durum, barley, bread wheat and oats.

To compensate for the shortfall in domestic production, Algeria will most likely import especially if world market prices are still low. Algeria's Customs attributed the decline in cereal import bill to the decline in global market price.

Wheat