Algeria has taken a decisive step toward modernizing agricultural governance with the launch of a National Agricultural Information System, an initiative described by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries Yacine El Mahdi Oualid as essential for data reliability and policy efficiency. Speaking in Algiers during a high-level meeting with senior officials, Oualid underscored the dangers of unreliable data, warning that “partial truths are worse than lies.”
The system will establish a unified nationwide database to streamline information flow from local levels to the central administration. This harmonization aims to ensure that agricultural decisions and strategies are based on precise, verified, and up-to-date figures.
Oualid emphasized that digital transformation in agriculture is not optional but a strategic necessity. Pending full implementation, he instructed local directorates to use available technological tools immediately to monitor production, track prices, and make key information accessible to citizens.
In his remarks, Oualid criticized persistent shortcomings, including weak internet connectivity in some agricultural offices. “We cannot speak of modernization if an agricultural official cannot even switch on his computer each morning to access updated data,” he said, stressing that executive commitment is central to reform. He added: “An administrator who does not have a professional email or does not check it daily cannot be convinced of the digital transformation project.”
Highlighting the importance of timeliness, the minister called for strict adherence to deadlines in submitting statistical data, stressing that accurate and timely information is “the backbone of digitization” and that meeting reporting timelines is non-negotiable.
