wheat, gmo
Wheat production in Algeria in 2016-17 was put at 2 million tonnes, down from 2.7 million in 2015-16.
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Grain production in Algeria fell 11% to 3.3 million tonnes in 2016-17, down from 4 million tonnes in 2015-16, according to a recent release from the Algeria Press Service that was detailed in a Sept. 29 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN).

While no official figures have been published, the GAIN report cited information from Algeria’s newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Chelghoum Abdeslam attributing the decrease in grains production to a drought that affected various major grain producing areas. Additionally, western Algeria was affected by ice storms, the GAIN report noted.

“This is the third consecutive year that cereal production has been affected by drought,” the GAIN report said.

In the report, the GAIN said two-thirds of the 3.3 million hectares that were planted were harvested. To compensate for the shortfall in domestic production, the GAIN said Algeria most likely will import, especially if world market prices remain low.

Wheat production in Algeria in 2016-17 was put at 2 million tonnes, down from 2.7 million in 2015-16 and compared with 1.9 million in 2014-15. Meanwhile, barley production in 2016-17 totaled 1 million tonnes, which compared with 1.3 million in both 2015-16 and 2014-15.