A severe fodder shortage is gripping Algeria’s livestock sector, forcing farmers into a desperate scramble for alternatives like barley and wheat bran. This crisis, however, is more than a simple supply deficit; it’s a complex story of climate stress, market failure, and a high-stakes government intervention to stabilize a critical agricultural chain during its most vulnerable period.
Feed at Regulated Prices
The root of the crisis is twofold. First, insufficient rainfall has led to poor pasture growth in the steppe regions, the traditional grazing heartland. Second, there has been inadequate planting of forage shrubs. This shortage is critically timed with the lambing season, a period of peak nutritional demand where proper feed is essential for the survival of newborn lambs and the health of ewes. The annual consumption of 9 million tons of cereals for feed underscores the scale of the need.
In response, Algerian agricultural authorities have enacted emergency measures, shifting the marketing of wheat bran—a key by-product of flour milling—from private mills to the state-run National Office of Livestock Feed (ONAB). The goal is twofold: ensure availability and crush speculation. Prior to the intervention, bran was selling on the informal “black market” for 5,000 DA per quintal. The new official price is set at 2,000 DA, with additional feed blends sold at 3,300 DA. This represents a direct subsidy to support farmers.
On the ground, the implementation of these measures is a patchwork of progress and persistent dysfunction. In some areas, like Sétif and Aïn Bessam (Bouira), ONAB facilities are operating seven days a week, selling thousands of quintals daily through newly opened distribution points. The system is designed to be rigorous: sales at subsidized prices are exclusively for holders of an official breeder’s card, issued by Chambers of Agriculture, with quotas per head of cattle to prevent hoarding.
New Measures Against Speculation
Yet, significant friction remains. Farmers in Djelfa report long, cold waits outside local distribution centers (CCLS), alleging favoritism where agents prioritize friends and family. A more systemic issue is distribution logistics. ONAB, now centralizing a function once handled by hundreds of decentralized mills, faces the immense challenge of moving a bulky product. In some *wilayas* (provinces), farmers must travel up to 120 km to reach a sales point. Where the network is thin, the black market resurges, with prices reportedly soaring to 6,000 DA per quintal. In Tiaret, farmers warn their herds “will waste away” due to lack of access.
These logistical gaps create opportunities for fraud, as non-breeders attempt to obtain subsidized feed for resale. The frustration is compounded by administrative mismatches, such as the delivery of superphosphate fertilizer in January—a pre-sowing input—when farmers currently need different nutrients, highlighting a disconnect in the support system.
A Structural Fodder Shortage
The path forward, as suggested by farmer union representatives, involves leveraging existing CCLS structures more widely to increase points of sale and ensuring law enforcement is present to maintain order. The crisis underscores a fundamental tension: while price controls and centralization can combat speculation, they must be paired with a robust, fair, and accessible physical distribution network. For Algeria’s livestock farmers, the success of this intervention isn’t just about affordable prices on paper; it’s about whether those bags of bran actually reach their feed troughs in time. The reorganization is a crucial test of the state’s capacity to manage agricultural supply chains under stress, with the health of the national herd and the livelihoods of countless breeders hanging in the balance.