From sand to spuds: How Algeria galvanised its agricultural sector

As part of its agricultural strategy, Algeria has set out to cultivate the desert.

Hundreds of thousand hectares of land are now in economically active in the Algerian Sahara. In just a few decades, these sand dunes have given way to new vegetable gardening plots.

It’s a game changer for the region of El Oued, which has become one of the country's main producers of vegetables.

"This is a way for us to encourage economic activity and develop agriculture in the El Oued region," says Aladine Meknassi, a potato farmer. "Our ambition is to export our production abroad. I salute all the farmers who have managed to provide the best potato production in the country, a quality product that’s recognised worldwide.

Algeria harnesses the year-round sunshine to its advantage. With these vegetable plots, it allows farmers to produce not only potatoes but tomatoes, peanuts and onions, in the off-season.

Without the use of some sophisticated technology, Algeria's desert would remain dry and idle. Instead, state-of-the-art sprinklers draw water from the water table to hydrate the land. The palm branches on the borders create a kind of microclimate inside.

Adlene Mathallah, a director of agricultural services in the Wilaya of El Oued, says farming has become a lot easier, but also more conscientious.

"Almost all the farms here are connected to electricity. They use modern technologies that save water to preserve the water table. Very few pesticides are used. And I insist on this phrase: it is sustainable agriculture."

Nicknamed 'the city of a thousand domes', agriculture is an ancestral practice in El Oued. Known as Ghout, the traditional technique is a practice protected by Unesco.

Dates are another huge industry in Algeria. The date palm is