Algeria has launched a national programme to develop and expand argan tree cultivation, using modern farming methods and smart technologies to improve yields and increase planted areas, Director General of Forests Djamel Touahria announced on Sunday.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of a national study day on argan tree development, organised by Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University and the provincial forestry department to mark the International Day of the Argan Tree, Touahria said the initiative was being led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries.
He explained that the programme is based on planting 250 trees per hectare, introducing water-saving techniques such as drip irrigation, and using smart technologies to monitor tree growth and boost productivity.
Touahria said the state’s current strategy is focused on promoting argan cultivation and extending it to more parts of the country. He noted that Tindouf Province currently has around 10,000 argan trees, adding that authorities are working to expand cultivation across several regions, particularly within the Green Dam Project.
The argan tree is seen as especially valuable because of its natural resistance to desertification and its ability to adapt to harsh climatic conditions.
According to Touahria, the programme has already delivered “very positive” results, particularly in Mostaganem, where improvements have been recorded in fruit quality as well as in the quantity and quality of extracted oil. Similar outcomes have also been observed in other provinces, including M’Sila, Tamanrasset and Illizi.
He also pointed to growing academic and scientific interest in the argan tree, with universities and researchers carrying out studies on its uses and its wider economic and environmental benefits.
Touahria said this work falls within the framework of the agreement between the agriculture and higher education sectors, supported by bilateral cooperation agreements between provincial forestry departments and local universities.