As part of the ENPARD South Support Programme (ESSP), Algeria has initiated a project to revive cooperative dynamics in agriculture. In December 2016, Algeria organised a sub-regional seminar on the theme of "strengthening the cooperative system in the Maghreb region". Subsequently, a workshop was held in Algiers in order to present the diagnosis of the Algerian cooperative system conducted by Olivier Rives, French expert on cooperatives. Finally, following the presentation of the study, a group of local actors, supported by the ENPARD-Algeria team, collectively established a roadmap for a new dynamic of agricultural cooperation in Algeria.
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In order to support this programme of revitalisation of the cooperative process, animation units have been created in each of the wilayas gathering representatives of the chambers of agriculture, presidents of active cooperatives, professionals and local elected representatives and installed within the chambers of agriculture. The ESSP team promotes this initiative by setting up a support programme aimed at harmonizing working methods, identifying good practices and difficulties encountered and consolidating the roadmap with a set of recommendations to strengthen action of local actors. In addition, a capacity building plan for cell facilitators was devised in collaboration with the European Programme PAJE (Youth Employment Support Programme).
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A first coordination meeting has been held in September with the National Chamber of Agriculture (CNA) team, in order to assess the project's progress of the creation of the animation units. Subsequently, a workshop was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries (MADRP) and the CNA on 24 October 2017 which gathered the Secretaries-General of 22 wilayas chambers of agriculture as well as officials from the MARP and the CNA. The main objective of the meeting was to present the results of the various activities implemented under the ENPARD South initiative to support the revitalisation of the cooperative system and to outline the operational plan for the creation of the animation units.
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In his introductory speech, Kouider Mouloua, General Secretary of CNA, stressed the importance of cooperation for the development of agriculture in Algeria and assured that this issue of the revitalisation of the cooperative process is regularly at the core of discussions during working meetings with the secretaries general of agricultural chambers. Subsequently, Ali Zoubar, Assistant Director of Regulation at the MADRP, argued that the chambers of agriculture, because of their prerogatives, are the natural platform for the revival of agricultural dynamic. He then stated that agricultural cooperation is at the center of the strategy drawn up by the Minister of Agriculture and that producers organisations must be key actors in agricultural developments, in particular reforms of support mechanisms and funding of the value chains.
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Thereafter, Omar Bessaoud, CIHEAM-IAMM expert and in charge of the ENPARD support programme in Algeria, presented the strategy to support the revitalisation of the cooperative process (establishment of a diagnosis, formulation of recommendations, drafting a roadmap by a group experts, setting up pilot animation units...). Finally, Omar Bessaoud explained the action plan developed to support the installation of the animation units in the wilayas.
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Following these presentations, several discussions and exchanges took place with the participants who raised various key points:
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The consolidation of the cooperative system: the diagnosis showed that only 10% of the cooperatives declared were really active. One of the solutions considered is the reclamation of these inactive cooperatives by young leaders identified in the wilayas;
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The history of the Algerian cooperative system: the cooperative structures created in the 1970s suffer from a poor image, which hampers the current development of the cooperative system;
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A regulatory framework too rigid and not adapted to ground realities: the clause on the prohibition of the creation of a cooperative by members of the same family, the management procedures of the cooperative, the tax on cooperatives are all factors that hinder the promotion of cooperatives. Also, many of them have turned into associations to avoid the cumbersome procedures and rigid framework governing cooperatives;
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Incentives: participants stressed on the implementation of provisions to encourage agricultural actors to cooperate (determine conditionality for the payment of aid, tax exemptions, and promote contracts between wholesale markets and cooperatives...);
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The key role of local authorities: the wilaya chambers of agriculture are the leaders in the implementation of the revitalisation programme of the cooperative process. In addition, the commitment of walis and agricultural services directorates (DSA) will be crucial to the success of this initiative. The MADRP representative then informed the participants that instructions will be sent to the DSAs inviting them to take part in this dynamic.
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Kouider Mouloua concluded the seminar by announcing to the participants that a second seminar that will gather the Secretaries-
General of the 26 other agricultural chambers of Wilaya will be organised in January 2018.
