El Oued produces over 16 million quintals of potatoes a year

El Oued produces more than 16 million quintals of potatoes each year, split between two growing seasons, according to farming bodies, Algérie Eco reported.

The off-season crop is the most in demand on national markets. It covers 35,000 hectares, or 35% of the farmland in use, which is estimated at about 100,000 hectares.

Output and planted area have stayed stable over the last six farming seasons, from 2020-2021 to 2025-2026, said Djelloul Othmani, president of the wilaya's agricultural chamber.

The off-season crop is planted from the second half of August to the second half of September. Fields with drip irrigation are planted until the first half of October.

Harvesting starts in the second half of November and runs until the first half of February. The off-season crop produced more than 12 million quintals.

The season crop is planted from the second half of January to the first half of March, on 11,000 hectares. That is 31% of the potato area, and output is estimated at more than 3.8 million quintals.

Why the season area has fallen

The drop in the season area is put down to bad weather. Winds from February to May, of varying strength, slow the ripening of crops and reduce yields, despite windbreaks, which have been installed as a preventive measure.

A major producer

El Oued has been first in the country for potato output in recent years. It supplies between 40% and 60% of national production.

Potatoes make up 60% of the wilaya's plant output value.

The crop is grown in most communes of the wilaya, mainly in the nine with a farming focus, including Trifaoui, Reguiba, Debila and Nakhla.

When the harvest starts

Larbi Bahloul, wali of El Oued, said the harvest campaign is planned to start around 20 November. He said this at several meetings, including one held during a visit to the wilaya by Mourad Adjal, minister of energy and renewable energies.

The aim, he said, is to keep the product available on national markets and to keep its prices stable. Several farming and trade bodies share this view, and spoke to Algérie Presse Service (APS).