Desert wheat project hits first harvest

Algeria has launched the first wheat harvest of its large-scale Algerian-Italian farming project in Timimoun, marking another step in the country’s push for food security.

Agriculture Minister Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid kicked off the campaign Thursday on 1,600 hectares of cultivated land, part of a wider 36,000-hectare investment developed with Italian group Bonifiche Ferraresi.

Project leaders say they aim to reach yields of 60 quintals per hectare next season as operations continue to expand in the Sahara. Officials describe the project as a cornerstone of Algeria’s strategy to boost local grain production and reduce reliance on imports.

The minister also launched a tree-planting campaign near Timimoun airport, with argan trees set to take root in the desert region.