Algeria to impose new controls on chemical fertilizers

04/02/2008

The Algerian government has undertaken a new programme to regulate and monitor the sale and distribution of chemical fertilizers, used by farmers and terrorists alike. Farmers worry the changes may reduce crop yields.

By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 04/02/08

[Getty Images] Due to its widespread use in terror attacks, Algerian authorities are moving to regulate and monitor the sale of chemical fertilizers. Farmers fear the measures could affect productivity.

As the latest in a series of measures to combat terrorism, the Algerian government announced recently that it will monitor the sale or distribution of chemical fertilizers, to prevent them from being used by terrorists for the manufacture of explosive devices.

The ministries of agriculture, defence and interior agreed on the measure after the fatal suicide bombings targeting the UN and Algerian government offices on December 11th.

Minister of Agriculture Said Barakat said the government was not imposing the new controls as a punishment against farmers, but rather to differentiate between proper and improper use of fertilizers.

Agriculture ministry officials held a series of meetings in December and January to discuss the issue with representatives from the national defence, interior and energy ministries. An early decision halted the distribution of fertilizers to farmers, in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists.

Online videos posted by the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb depict how explosives are made – describing techniques and materials – including agricultural fertilizers.

Nevertheless, the government's plan was received with many reservations from farmers, who fear the measure could have a negative effect on production.

Mohamed Alioui, Secretary-General of the Algerian Farmers' Union, called on authorities not to punish farmers with this measure. In statements to the press, he suggested assigning the distribution of fertilizer to local state agencies that are subject to permanent surveillance from the security forces, and halting private sales.

Alioui assured farmers the distribution of fertilizer will recommence after the government has put its new plan into motion. He said the widely-rumoured scarcity was only affecting certain provinces and that private companies had sufficient stock to overcome the interruption.

Said Barakat echoed this message, adding that public institutions will likely be used and that the tracking of fertilizers will be permanent.

Farmers have already reported surveillance on their reserves of fertilizers. Mahmoud, a farmer from wheat-producing Setif Province, told Magharebia that security authorities, together with representatives from his municipality, took an inventory of the quantity of fertilizers in his possession.

In a related measure, security officials intensified their scrutiny of commodities, especially chemicals, entering the country from Morocco and Tunisia.

Last year, Border Guard forces intercepted more than 50 tonnes of chemicals used in the manufacture of explosives that were en route to terrorist groups.

Restrictions were also imposed on importers of substances used in the production of chemicals, especially acids, which are used in the manufacture of explosives and hand grenades.