Algeria’s Agricultural Minister Said Barkat said that the Arab state witnessed a record year in the farming sector for 2003. The country cultivated 42.6 quintals of wheat, 430,000 tons of dates and 1.7 million tons of apples over the course of the year, Barkat announced on a local radio station.
The minister attributed the positive results to a more affective use of land and water resources as well as the use of new technology. “In 2004, the price of fruit and vegetables shall decrease considerably," predicted the minister.
Algeria’s agricultural sector represents 12 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). It has a turnover of eight billion dollars and employs 21 percent of the total workforce, according to the Algerian embassy statistics. Algeria’s main crop production includes cereals, citrus, dates, legumes, grapes and olives. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
