Algeria breaks its dependence on paste imports
After an "inventory update" drawn up on 6 August, the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced in the press that the quantities harvested since the beginning of the year (since January in the southern wilayas (Adrar, Tamanrasset, etc.) and mid-June in the northeast of the country (Skikda, Guelma)) were already reaching an exceptional level of close on 1.27 million metric tons (mT).
"Harvesting operations [also show] an average yield of 74.3 mT/ha, a 77% increase compared to the quantities produced over the same period the previous year, when production reached 720 000 mT." According to the Ministry's press release, 530 000 mT had already been processed as of 6 August, for a production of 41 180 mT of triple-concentrated paste and 24 000 mT of double-concentrated paste. This year's surface area planted with tomatoes for processing covered just over 24 450 hectares, of which more than 17 000 hectares had been harvested as of 6 August.
By that date, the harvest had been completed in the southern regions (72 640 mT, i.e. a yield of about 60 mT/ha for the wilayas of Adrar and Tamanrasset) but was still ongoing in the north (Skikda, Guelma, El Tarf, Annaba, Ain Defla and Chlef).
According to data from the Ministry, the area used for growing processing tomatoes increased from 16 958 ha (for a production of 920 000 mT) in 2013 to 24 800 ha with a production of 1.65 million mT in 2019.
The 2020 season has seen the institution of a new traceability system of the batches delivered, which should allow better fluidity in production management and easier control of the premiums paid to farmers. The new digital system will benefit producers and processors, according to the Ministry, since "the premiums are now paid directly into the accounts of farmers and processors, whereas previously it was the latter who paid the support premiums to farmers, leading to delays in those payments."
In 2020, the State grants a premium of DZD 4 per kilogram of tomato delivered to the processing plant (i.e. EUR 26.5 or USD 31 per mT), and the processors receives DZD 1.50 per kg processed (EUR 10 or USD 11.7).
Source Trade Data Monitor LLC
According to local press, this performance has enabled the country to achieve self-sufficiency for this mass-consumption product whose imports rose considerably in the past, according to the sources consulted, to the point of exceeding 40 000 mT per year, while at times even reaching close on 65 000 mT. Official sources point out that virtually no imports have been recorded for this product during the past two years.
The Ministry highlighted the efforts made by operators (both growers and processors) in the development of this "strategic sector" but also the role of public authorities, in particular through the support and technical supervision of the sector. According to the Ministry, "this remarkable performance will create added-value for the national economy, reduce imports and therefore achieve currency gains, in addition to raising export prospects."
Significant difficulties in the background
However, a number of dissenting voices are being heard in one of the most important growing regions. The farmers of El-Tarf (north-eastern Algeria) have been denouncing the poor management of the reception of harvested tomatoes. The season has been announced as exceptional in the wilaya, with a production of 400 000 tonnes recorded this year, but it has started at a pace that does not meet their expectations.
Growers “are worried about the lack of enthusiasm shown by the six active processing sites that are able to receive their products.” According to one grower: “The lines of trucks and tractors filled with fresh tomatoes stretch out for kilometers under a blazing sun outside most of the canneries. The waiting times exceed 40 hours; that's unheard of!” He added that the situation is the result of a deliberate approach by processors, who still experience great difficulties financing the season, and are not in a position to meet their financial obligations towards the “fellahs” with whom they work traditionally. Growers estimate that the quantities left unharvested due to the slowdown in factories are considerable, with some citing figures of up to a third or even half of their production.
Similar situations have been observed at Chlef, in the other main growing region (north-western Algeria) where “the two processing units cannot meet the needs [and take delivery of all the batches delivered] due to breakdowns and maintenance problems that their equipment and machines are starting to encounter,” explain local sources.
Sources: aps.dz, Trade Data Monitor LLC, liberte-algerie.com
