Algerias farmers suffer while their Government dithers

23 October 1998

Algeria’s farmers suffer while their Government dithers

ALGERIAS agriculture is languishing while the Government debates whether to adopt a privatisation programme, reports the Financial Times.

The paper interviews farmers who are unable to borrow to invest in their farms because banks require the security of ownership of the land.

Algerias lower house of parliament is to debate the issue this autumn but the measure has opponents. Resistance comes from the powerful associations of the “revolutionary family”, which includes those who fought in the war of independence and who believe they should be given priority.

A privatisation law is also believed to be resisted by a politically powerful group that has made a fortune on imports since economic reforms were introduced in 1994.

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  Financial Times 23/10/98 page 34