CHLEF – In a pioneering endeavor in Chlef, young entrepreneur Abdelouahab Fellouh has achieved the cultivation and planting of coffee plants in the outskirts of the Bouzeghaia municipality (Northern Algeria). He is now eagerly anticipating his inaugural coffee harvest scheduled for November.
“The idea of cultivating coffee in Chlef came to me after witnessing the adaptability of several tropical trees to the region’s climate,” Abdelouahab explained to APS. He also credited the support provided by a local farmer, who wholeheartedly embraced his project from its inception.
Elaborating on his choice, the budding farmer emphasized his interest in strategic sectors that “contribute to reducing the importation of certain agricultural products, and even potentially eliminating it,” he affirmed. Thus, he chose coffee, a widely consumed commodity locally, with significant price hikes on the global markets.
Abdelouahab embarked on a trial venture by intensifying coffee seedlings and producing around a hundred coffee plants. He successfully transplanted about twenty of them in collaboration with a farmer from the “Louailia” area of Bouzeghaia.
The operation turned out to be a triumph, as the plants adapted to the local climate, despite being typically endemic to regions in North and South America, East Asia, and Africa.
“In addition to the specific climatic conditions, including over 50% humidity and temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius, which can be maintained through greenhouses, coffee cultivation also requires specialized training and technical support,” he further noted.
Aspiration for Extensive Coffee Agriculture
According to Fellouh, the first harvest of Algerian “Arabica” coffee is expected in “November of this year.” The initial yield will be analyzed to determine its compliance with international standards, paving the way to expand this cultivation to other areas.
Mr. Deghrar Mohamed, a farmer from the region, expressed his willingness to scale up this sector by cultivating larger coffee plantations. Given the favorable climatic conditions and technical support, he described the results along the technical path of this inaugural cultivation as “satisfactory.” The collection of the first harvest is anticipated in the coming days.
Farmers in the region are increasingly showing interest in coffee cultivation, as well as various tropical fruits, due to their nutritional value and high demand, leading to elevated prices in local and global markets.
This initiative is supported by the Chamber of Agriculture and the Agricultural Services Directorate (DSA) of Chlef, which are organizing study and training sessions on these strategic sectors to encourage farmers to invest in this field and diversify agricultural productions.
In recent years, the Chlef province has witnessed several successful pioneering experiences in cultivating a range of exotic fruits and tropical trees, including kiwano, papaya, and the argan tree.