Olive oil, Algeria is the seventh largest producer

The Algerian national does not consume enough of this product for nutritional virtues recognized health

Algeria has reached an estimated volume of 50 000 tonnes / year, against 19,000 t / year in 2000, and fifth in the world for the production of edible oil by 220 000 t / year.

Long considered as the "best", the orchards of olive oil of Kabylia seems to be dethroned by one of Jijel, including that of Mr.

Some recent analysis in the laboratory have revealed the olive oil "good quality", produced in the province of Jijel, in particular in terms of acidity of these rates of oil.

In a paper presented to the APS, the Secretary General of the Chamber of Agriculture of the wilaya, Yacine Zeddam, he said that 11 mills of modern and traditional, only two get oils with an acidity of between 3.92 and 17.6%. The other nine who send them the results "very satisfactory" with rates ranging between 0.48 and 2.73%.

The same official said that this analysis is part of the evaluation of the quality of olive oil produced in Algeria under the olive harvest 2014-2015.

Samples were taken from the Technical Institute of fruit trees and vines (Itaf) Sidi Aich, in the wilaya of Bejaia, with 11 mills town of Taher, Chekfa El Ancer and blessed Hebibi, all located in the olive-growing areas in the province of Jijel , he stressed Zeddam. In order to further improve product quality, Zeddam said that "support efforts" manufacturers will continue to get better performance.

The sampling was concentrated in particular on the "PH" analysis (potential hydrogen) (which represents the measure of chemical alkalinity, and d) as well as sensory, chemical analyzes and the content of fat contained in the product.

The production of olive oil has reached more than 24,000 hectoliters in the country from 2013 to 2014 in the province of Jijel, where two professional associations approved by the state, operating in the olive oil sector, which has an area of ​​14 300 hectares of olive groves .

Jijélienne The region has 134 mills (47 87 modern and traditional) and a workforce of more than 1,400 farmers, according to the local Chamber of Agriculture.

Currently ranked seventh in the world in the production of olive oil, Algeria has reached an estimated volume of 50,000 tons / year, against 19,000 t / year in 2000, and fifth in the world for the production table with oil 220,000 t / year. However, the Algerian citizen consumes just enough product for nutritional and health virtues recognized. In fact, it consumes just 1.5 kilograms of olive oil per marketing year, or 4.1 g / day, which is not enough, according to Director General of the National Technical for the cultivation of fruit and vineyard, Mendil Mahmoud recently speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on "production of olive oil and honey, quality and export prospects", organized last June in Boumerdes. The speaker, it must be remembered, had underlined the ambitions of the Algerian government to improve fuel economy in the coming years, to increase the oil industry creator of jobs direct, indirect and significant.

Incidentally, Mendil stressed that the competent authorities are planning an increase in the consumption of olive oil up to 3 kg / year, twice the current consumption and that to be "in harmony with the program of support to the sector of 'olive oil. "The state attributes to accomplish this in the next five years, said the rapporteur cited" Algeria-Focus ", explaining that to do this," the authorities launched an ambitious program with the start production over the next five years, a growing area of ​​nearly 180,000 hectares, which will be added to the currently producing area, estimated at 200,000 hectares of olive trees.

This approach, aimed at improving the position of Algeria, currently in seventh place in the world in the production of olive oil, require, according to him, a reorganization of the olive oil sector at all levels, making the creation of a national market transparent and organized.