Rabat – Soaring food prices amid the COVID-19 and economic crisis in Algeria is sparking outrage among the Algerian community and has garnered wide-spread media attention.
A news report from the Algerian media outlet, Algerie Part Plus, indicates that the Algerian government is increasingly relying on imports for basic food products due to “chronic shortages” of consumer goods in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
“Vegetables or fruits prices can double before going down again and relapsing for lack of consumers who are ready to pay hundreds of Algerian dinars for a few KG [of products],” the news outlet said.
The Algerian news outlet reports that the prices for flageolet beans range between 140 DZD Algerian dinars ($1) to 400 DZD per kilogram ($2.92).
The data, which was released in October, revealed that lettuce prices rose to 160 DZD ($1.17) before moving down to 40 DZD ($0.29) in November.
Meanwhile, Algerian stores sell lentils for 300 DZD ($2.19) per kilogram while prices of chickpeas and rice mounted to 400 DZD per kilogram ($2.92).
“Pulses still show excessive prices that are inaccessible to the poorest,” Algerie Part Plus said.
The news outlet emphasized that the Algerian government acknowledged the crisis, raising concerns about the country’s agricultural production.
The government stressed that local production cannot satisfy Algeria’s consumer demand.
Faced with pressure, Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune instructed his government last week to “resolve the concerns of citizens” and fight against the “soaring prices” of basic products.
Tebboune said that the Algerian government must find a solution, including importing food products to preserve purchasing power.
“The country cannot yet ensure its food security for lack of national production…Dependence on food imports is still a necessary evil for Algeria,” Algerie Part Plus concluded.
