Algeria: No plans to import barley as domestic stocks are enough for two years

Algeria has enough barley stocks to last two years and has no plans to import barley or durum wheat in the near future, state news agency APS reported on September, 5.

While this year's grain crop was down on last year's record harvest, Algeria, the world's fifth biggest wheat importer, still has large stocks of barley and durum wheat, APS quoted Agriculture Minister Rachid Benaissa as saying.

Last week, Mr. Benaissa said Algeria's grain harvest would be between 4 million tonnes and 4.5 million tonnes, slightly below the government's previous forecast.

Last year's harvest was 6.1 million tonnes.

Agriculture officials have said poor weather conditions affected the crop this year and farmers also planted less barley because of the surplus from last year.

08 September, 2010