News
The industrial tomato sector recorded a huge increase in production this season, which caused long queues at the factories.
In the wilaya of Chlef, farmers enlarged the planted area, from 1,500 hectares in 2022 to over 2,100 hectares this season. Moreover, the yield per hectare also climbed to over 1.000 quintals in irrigated areas, and between 450 and 600 quintals in non-irrigated areas. As a result of this abundant production, long queues were formed in front of the processing unit despite the increase in its processing capacity, the local agricultural services department reported.
According to the director of the sector, Mehdi Kouadria, 370 farmers were registered in the industrial tomato sector, of which 340 farmers under contract with the Telloise processing unit, which has increased its processing capacity to 2,800 quintals per day this season.
The "exceptional" recent heatwave accelerated the ripening of tomatoes in various regions, requiring them to be harvested immediately and causing long queues outside the factory.
The plant processed more than 58,000 tonnes of tomatoes since the start of the season, and is planning to reach 100,000 tonnes by the end.
This is more than the previous season, which reached over 80,000 tonnes.
The plant had increased its processing capacity from 2300 qx/day in 2022 to the current 2800 qx/day, in order to absorb the abundant tomato production. Work is currently in progress to install a third processing line with a capacity of 1,500 qx/day, which will increase the plant's processing capacity to almost 4,300 qx/dday.
Mohamed Benyamina, the Chairman of the Interprofessional Council for the Industrial Tomato Sector in Chlef, pointed out that difficult climatic conditions and water shortages had not affected farmers' determination to rise to the challenge and achieve a record yield per hectare. He added that this sector still needs the support and backing of the State. The industrial tomato receives support and assistance through subsidies to farmers, and to the factory, or through the allocation of large shares of water for agricultural irrigation as well as the granting of licences to drill wells.
