Farmer status in Algeria
Each wilaya agriculture chamber keeps a register of farmers. Registration grants you farmer status and leads to a professional card showing your category and line of activity (crops, livestock…). Farming through a company (SARL, EURL…) or food processing, however, follows the rules for commercial businesses.
The file to submit to the agriculture chamber
Documents required by the regulations:
- A written, signed application
- A birth certificate extract and a certificate of residence
- A certified copy of the national ID card and two photos
- Depending on your situation: title deed, lease, possession certificate or administrative document for the farm (concession…)
- Any document proving you personally and habitually carry out the declared farming activity
What the card gives you access to
The farmer card is the reference document of the profession:
- Affiliation with CASNOS (social security for the self-employed), mandatory for card holders
- Subsidised farm loans, such as the zero-interest R'fig loan
- Membership of an agricultural cooperative, which requires farmer status
- Support programmes run by the agricultural services directorate (DSA) of your wilaya
Social security and taxes
CASNOS affiliation must be requested within 10 days of starting the activity; farmers have until 30 September to pay their annual contribution. On the tax side, several farm incomes are exempt from income tax (IRG):
- Permanently: cereals, dried pulses and dates, and raw milk sold for direct consumption
- For 10 years: activities on newly reclaimed land (from when it enters production) and in mountain areas (from the start of the activity)
- Other farm income is assessed using per-hectare scales set by each wilaya, depending on the crop or livestock