The Algerian poultry industry produces annually on average 340,000 tons of white
meat and more than 4.8 billion eggs. The industry consists of 20,000 farmers
employing about 500,000 people. Most feed and other inputs are imported and
correspond to 80% of 2,500,000 tons of feed (which is typically based on corn
and soybean meal), three million breeder birds, veterinary products and
equipment. The current structure of the Algerian poultry industry is derived
from government development policies initiated in the 1980's. Currently the high
dependence on external markets for feed materials remains the main limiting
factor in the development of the Algerian poultry, especially for corn and
soybean meal which represent over 75% of the content of poultry feed.
Difficulties encountered by producers, particularly in terms of supply,
increased expenses, disengagement of the State and problems in commercialisation
of their products, has caused many skilled farmers to leave the poultry
industry, creating a net loss in experience within the sector. In addition, the
industry is also going through a period of modernisation and adaptation of this
sector to meet the new world standards, including imminent integration of
Algeria to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and partnership with the European
Union, which involves free movement of goods, resulting in more competition and
requires more integration with different partners (professional organisations,
inter-professional associations) and various state structures and competent
authorities (industry, agriculture and trade) with the establishment of an
institutional framework for the development, implementation and monitoring of
development policies in the poultry meat and egg sector.