The Role of Legumes in the Farming Systems of Algeria

Abstract

The area grown to food legumes had increased to 250 000 ha by 1987, but yields are low and production does not meet demand, so imports are rising sharply. There is also a deficit in forage legumes. These tend not to be considered as important a source of livestock feed as rangeland, perennial pastures, fallow and cereal residues. However, in 1987 the area for forage crops reached 933 000 ha, rising to more than 1 000 000 in 1988. The main problem with expanding production of food legumes is the lack of varieties adapted to moderate rainfall, resistant to disease, and suitable for mechanization. Other constraints include poor choice of land, inadequate cultural practices and low market prices until 1984. Problems for pastures include degradation of the steppe, poor natural pastures due to bad manage­ment, and inadequate crop-livestock integration in the cereal zones. Future research will concentrate in the long-term on breeding, and in the short-term on improvement of management and extension