Agrarian capitalism in Algeria: genesis and transformations

Abstract

The article recounts the various stages of the evolution, from State control to privatisation, which Algerian agriculture experienced since Independence. It assesses the impact of reforms and various public policies addressing land
tenure, labour force, financing and crop yields. The privatisation of State owned farms proved a favourable condition for improving yields since the 1990s. However, it was land concentration, the extension of irrigated areas and the use of inputs (chemicals and equipment,) together with incentives from the price and markets system, which increased agricultural output
from the 2000s. The rise of capital-intensive agriculture was accompanied by a diversification of land tenure patterns fostering the emergence of new categories of capitalist owners and entrepreneurs, distinct from traditional peasants.