At a press conference organized by the National Association of Traders and Craftsmen (ANCA) to mark the start of the olive harvest season under the slogan "Olive oil market: between satisfying demand and export prospects", Redouane Messaoudi, Deputy Director of Fruit Trees at the Ministry, announced that the Ministry had launched an emergency program to produce and plant one million olive seedlings by the end of 2024.

Recalling the State's support for the olive oil sector in view of its importance for the national economy and food security, Messaoudi highlighted the sector's "qualitative evolution", citing the Council of Europe's ranking of the best olive oil in the world.citing the International Olive Oil Council's ranking of Algeria fourth in terms of table olive production and seventh worldwide in terms of cultivated olive area.

Olive trees are among the most important fruit trees in Algeria, accounting for 45% of the country's cultivated area.

The agricultural area devoted to olive trees is currently estimated at 442,900 hectares, spread over 49 wilayas, compared with 160.000 hectares at the beginning of the millennium, according to figures provided by Mr Messaoudi, who recalled the State's efforts to increase this area to one million hectares by 2030.

In terms of production volume, the same official reported that the increase in surface area had enabled the production of 100 million liters/year of olive oil.

The total number of olive trees is currently estimated at over 65 million, of which 48 million are productive, while the remainder represent new plantings or trees that fail to produce each year (known as the alternation phenomenon).

This number has resulted in a national production of more than 9 million quintals of olives, including 3 million quintals of table olives and more than 6 million quintals of olives for oil mills, says Messaoudi.

Algeria has more than 48 varieties of olive trees in the official fruit tree catalog, some of which are intended for oil production and others for table olives, he added, pointing to a high level of mastery of local plant production and conservation techniques.

For his part, agricultural expert Ahmed Malha called for olive residues, such as pits, to be used to produce natural fertilizers and certain products such as soap, as is done in some olive oil-producing countries. He recommended expanding intensive olive cultivation by grafting wild olive trees, which are abundant in the mountains and undergrowth.

For his part, expert Arezki Toudert stressed the importance of modernizing the sector in terms of harvesting and storage equipment.The development of the sector must be based on an integrated vision, including the promotion of the local glass bottle industry for olive oil packaging, in line with international standards, to enhance the quality of the Algerian product.

With regard to olive oil quality control, the expert proposed the promulgation of a legal text obliging the companies concerned to provide laboratory analyses upon receipt of products from oil mills.

Mr. Toudert called for the creation of a national olive-growing office, whose mission would be to organize the sector and take care of professionals.

Source: www.aps.dz/regions/