On July 24, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ezzeddine Ben Cheikh, presented a new strategic study. It aims to protect and organize the country’s agricultural land until 2050. This approach responds to the problems linked to the division of plots, urbanization and soil degradation.
Since the 1960s, the average size of farms has increased from 16 to 6 hectares. This complicates the use of sustainable agricultural techniques, such as plowing in level curves. However, these techniques are important to keep water and the quality of the soil. This situation endangers food security and increases dependence on imports.
The strategy sets several key objectives. First, it wants to ensure the protection of agricultural land in the long term. Then, it seeks to limit the effects of climate change. It also wishes to integrate land development into a global rural development plan. It is essential to protect land against division and urbanization. In addition, the management of natural resources, especially water and soil, must be reinforced. Finally, the strategy fights against the negligence of agricultural land.
To succeed, the agricultural land agency will have to intervene on a million hectares. It will also benefit from a revised legal framework and a strengthening of the skills of its agents.
The Minister called on all administrations and local actors to participate. They will have to develop a clear action plan together. This strategy is an important step for sustainable agricultural development. It will also make it possible to better prepare the sector for future challenges.
