Algeria has thrown itself body and soul into the massive planting of argan trees. A strategy has been put in place with the stated objective of achieving 200,000 trees planted in several regions of the country.
The argan tree, which is a tree endemic to southern Morocco, has been gaining interest in Algeria in recent years, and especially since the presidency of Abdelmadjid Tebboune who is trying as best he can to compete with Morocco on several levels. It seems to be preparing the country to become an alternative to Morocco by offering similar products and offers.
The Algerian press is already delighted with the results of the first plantings and is full of praise for this tree which has suddenly regained interest. The Algerian media recognize that the location of argan trees in the Tindouf region can be explained, according to researchers, by the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean (understanding Morocco, editor’s note).
“The ability to resist aridity of the argan tree, this tree which produces the most expensive oil in the world, arouses the admiration of all,” wrote the Algerian media TSA.
“Plantations are increasing not only in the Tindouf region where this tree is endemic but also in other wilayas” indicates the Algerian site, arguing that these trees have been decimated due to overgrazing and drought.
Last July, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared in the Council of Ministers that the cultivation of argan should be one of the priorities of Algeria’s agricultural policy. It seems that the Algerian president’s idea is to produce oil and make Algeria an exporter that could compete with Moroccan supply in this segment.
-Algeria launched a massive argan tree planting strategy this year, aiming to plant 200,000 trees in several regions of the country such as Mostaganem, Chlef, Msila, Tindouf and Béchar.
“It (argan oil, editor’s note) is produced in modest quantities in the west of the country, notably in Mostaganem, and in larger quantities in Tindouf and Béchar, but it has long been underestimated in our country . The lack of interest in this oil has hampered its development,” noted the Algerian website El Moudjahid in July.
In Msila, the forest services have just completed the planting of argan trees on more than 300 hectares. The total experiment started with just 60 trees this year, the Algerian news agency APS reported. In May, the Algerian press agency admitted that these were the first plantations of their kind.
“The first results of this crop are promising, given the flowering of the trees and the start of fruiting, while awaiting the harvest planned between July and August” noted the APS agency.
Algeria does not simply intend to produce argan oil but is also seeking to multiply argan plants with a view to distributing them to farmers, and to inoculate young plants in the nursery before planting.
