Algerian food queues: separating myth from facts
For many Algerians, the countdown to Ramadan started a while ago. For international media and in particular Moroccan journalists, it kicked off with controversial images of long queues for food
The month of Ramadan is a time of fasting and prayer for Muslims. In Algeria, many people are flocking to supermarkets to buy basic foodstuffs before the start of the month.
Algerian authorities have repeatedly announced that there is enough food available on the market to meet demand and that the government is working to ensure equitable distribution. Humanitarian aid organizations are also working to provide food to the most vulnerable people during Ramadan.
However, many Algerians have expressed concern about food shortages during the month and have flocked to supermarkets to buy the food they need. This resulted in a deluge of images and videos being shared on social media. Algerians hope that the government will be able to meet the demand for food during Ramadan and that food prices will not be affected by shortages, the authorities are already working to solve the problem and ensure the availability of food at reasonable prices during the month
READ: Haitham El-Zobaidi: Tebboune’s candid talk is making Algerians nervous
The Algerian government has set up a program to tackle shortages of subsidized basic products such as milk, flour and oil, and their excessive prices, by providing basic foodstuffs at lower prices in local markets, although this was not enough to stem popular discontent. In addition, the government has sought to encourage agriculture, agro-industry and local food production to supply the population.
Last month, Algerian Trade Minister Kamal Rizik announced that authorities would ensure a steady supply of basic goods during the month of Ramadan. Indeed, Ramadan is an important period for Muslims, during which the supply of food and other goods should be sufficient to meet the needs of the population. Minister Rizik assured that the authorities are determined to ensure that Algerians receive what is necessary to meet their needs during the month of Ramadan, also adding that the control staff is ready “to ensure the stability of the prices of regulated materials, and to deal with the unfair practices of certain traders who apply illegal prices to certain products such as bread, sugar, oil and subsidized milk.” In addition, he underlined that he had taken a series of measures to control the market supply of vegetables, fruit, meat and subsidized milk.
On the other hand, he stressed the need to promote wholesale vegetable and fruit markets to provide consumers with fresh, safe and nutritious products. It was suggested to establish health and quality standards and encourage the use of new technologies to improve food safety. A number of measures have been proposed to reduce the cost of transporting and storing produce, in addition to improving wholesale market infrastructure to facilitate trade. To achieve this goal, the government has launched a number of initiatives aimed at improving agricultural development, such as increasing investment in infrastructure, modernizing irrigation systems and promoting new technologies. In addition, training programs are implemented to improve the quality of life of farmers and encourage the participation of women in the sector. These measures should contribute to the achievement of food self-sufficiency goals by 2025.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said: “We are on the verge of achieving food independence. All that remains is to increase the production of certain vegetables to achieve self-sufficiency in 2025”.
Atalayar.com
