Under the framework of the study on agricultural support mechanisms in Algeria, the ENPARD South Support Programme team organised a workshop on 20 and 21 February in Algiers, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries (MADRP) and ADECIA, to identify the objectives of this study and to outline its essential contours.

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This workshop was structured around five major objectives:

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1. Determine the expectations for the study;

2. Identify the priority sectors to be studied;

3. Identify the main actors to meet;

4. Develop the methodology;

5. List available documents on existing procedures.

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To this end, various stakeholders were invited to discuss and exchange, including representatives from different departments of the MADRP (Directorate of Regulation and Agricultural Production Development, Directorate of Agricultural Statistics and Information Systems, General Directorate of Forests, etc.) and public or parapublic structures (Directorate of Agricultural Services of the Wilaya of Algiers, National Chamber of Agriculture, etc.), managers of pre-identified agricultural sectors (National Interprofessional Milk Office, National Interprofessional Office of Vegetables and Meat, Interprofessional Milk Group, Algerian Interprofessional Office of Cereals) and banking institutions (National Agricultural Mutual Fund, Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) and representatives of the private sector (Frigomedit).

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The Delegation of the European Union to Algeria and the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry (Services and Payments Agency, SPA) were invited to present the European and French experience in this field.  

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In order to begin with the debate on the scope of the study and its aims, the representatives of ADECIA and SPA presented their experience in terms of regulation, attribution, monitoring and control of aid granted to professionals. They insisted on the limited cost of these devices regarding the amounts awarded, due notably to low management costs (online aid filing system for farmers, use of networked aids management software available for all the institutions involved in the management of the funds...).

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Subsequently, the representatives of the relevant bodies (DRAPD, NIMO and DSA of the Wilaya of Algiers) analysed the previous Algerian managing system of aid granted to professionals in the milk sector and carried out a comprehensive presentation of the new mechanism.

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These presentations made it possible to establish a first diagnosis of the current procedures, to gather the necessary documentation and to target the scope of intervention of the study.

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After exchanges with the Algerian stakeholders and the representatives of the MADRP, it was decided within the framework of the realisation of this study:

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• To give priority to the milk sector and, to a lesser extent, to the forage sector.

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• Focus the activities of the ENPARD South Support Programme team on the mapping of the Algerian support system, the formulation of a procedure guide connected to the new system implemented as well as on the transfer of tools allowing the management of these aids.

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A detailed mission report detailing the scope, objectives and future schedule will soon be elaborated and transmitted to the Algerian authorities.