Water resources and food security in Algeria: Diagnosis and new strategy proposition

Abstract

Algeria as an important North African and Mediterranean country with remarkable bioclimatic, edaphic, and political characteristics is under many sorts of negative stress affecting considerably alimentary dependence. Today, Algerian agriculture presents a worrying record. Several warning signs show that the sector is only surviving thanks to massive imports of milk, grains, seeds and chemical fertilizers. The current agricultural model is overtaken by dependence on foreign markets and recourse to costly public subsidies which come exclusively from revenues derived from hydrocarbon exports. Indeed, Algeria is located in region characterized by high water deficit and, poor hydraulic potential, affecting considerably the economy and food security. This situation is more due to mismanagement than an inability to produce enough and healthy food for all Algerians. The current governance is totally inappropriate. The solution mainly involves training, research and technology transfer. In the present perspective paper, we identify with real statistics, organizational, structural, technical, and ecological deficiency causing the suicidal alimentary dependence with alarming repercussion on health and economy. A series of items are proposed to be adopted in order to enable food security in view of available and mobilizable natural resources.

Climate change projections for Algeria: the 2030 water sector development strategy

“…Failure to address water challenges in North Africa can have significant negative effect in the region. The vital role of water characterized by shortage and scarcity constitutes challenges to population security and economy, which is closely related to health, environmental and food security in particular (Bouchentouf and Benabdellli, 2021).…”

Hydrogeology in Algeria

“…The country have an annual surface water estimated at 10.5 billion m 3 /year, with about 10 billion m 3 /year in the North and only 0.5 billion m 3 /year flowing into the Saharan basin. Groundwater resources are estimated at a total of 7.5 billion m 3 /year with 2.5 billion m 3 /year in the North and about 5 billion m 3 /year in the South (Bouchekima et al 2008, Hamiche et al, 2015. As said, large part of the groundwater resource is localized in the Sahara and 96% of water demand in the South part of Algeria is provided from the transboundary North-Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) as shown in Figure 1.…”

“…The North of Algeria is characterized by shallow aquifers, renewable with 1.9 billion m 3 /year of recharge, but overexploited, being the total withdrawals estimated at 2.5 billion m 3 /year (Bouchekima et al 2008;Langenberg et al, 2021). At the same time, the fractured and karstic aquifers are under-known.…”