The area sown with annual autumn crops totals, to date, 4.9 million hectares (Ha), for the 2020/2021 agricultural campaign, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said on Friday. maritime, rural development and water and forests.
“The total area sown to date, all annual autumn crops combined, totals 4.9 million Ha, 9% of which is irrigated, dominated by cereals (86%), fodder (10%) and legumes (4%) “, specifies the ministry in a press release.
“Autumn crops experienced good momentum, from the 3rd ten days of November 2020, marked by a predominance of mechanical tillage, which concerned nearly 94% of the cultivated area”, adds the same source.
The area sown in autumn cereals amounts to 4.20 million Ha with 44% soft wheat, 34% barley and 22% durum wheat, the statement continued, noting that the vegetative state of cereal crops is generally satisfactory and that the evolution of the state of the autumn cereals will depend on the climatic conditions (rainfall and temperatures) in April and the maintenance work that will be carried out by the farmers.
As for fodder crops, they cover an area of 513,000 ha, of which 34% is irrigated. The main forage species cultivated are feed barley (26%), alfalfa (21%), oats (18%), bersim (12%), field beans (9%), feed mixtures (4%) ) and others (10%).
As regards the autumn food legumes, they occupy about 168,000 Ha, of which 6% irrigated with beans (56%), Peas (20%), Lentils (21%) and others (3%).
Regarding sugar crops, the area sown with sugar beet amounts to 46,150 Ha and the area set up for sugar cane amounts to nearly 12,423 Ha. The harvestable area of sugar cane is estimated at 10,260 Ha with a forecast production of 680,000 T.
As for autumn market gardening, the area achieved on December 31, 2020 is 100,900 Ha. Achievements by species, potato with nearly 21,000 Ha, onion 11,000 Ha, tomato 9,235 Ha, green beans 4,900 Ha, squash and zucchini 4,100 Ha, carrots and turnip 15,800 Ha.
For winter market gardening, the achievements of the main species reached 61,470 Ha. The expected production will have to cover consumption and export needs for the period April-June.
The spring market gardening program, stopped at 89,700 Ha, started on March 13. The achievements to date have reached 13% of the program and the expected production will have to cover the consumption needs of the summer season.
The cereal seed multiplication program has been strengthened, particularly in durum wheat and barley, and is fully implemented with an area of 51,000 ha to meet demand for the next season and ensure the replenishment of the seed stock.
