Accessing agricultural land

Buying, leasing or obtaining a State concession: the routes to agricultural land in Algeria and what to check.

Land is often the first hurdle of a farming project. Its legal status (private, State-owned, collective) determines how you obtain it, which documents you need and what you can do with it.

Private land: buying or leasing

Private land (melk) is bought by notarial deed, registered with the land registry. It can also be leased: this is often the fastest way to start, and the lease serves as supporting evidence for the farmer card.

State land: the concession

Agricultural land in the State's private domain is farmed under a concession (law 10-03 of 15 August 2010):

A term of up to 40 years, renewable
An annual fee paid to the Public Treasury
Reserved for Algerian nationals, who may partner with other farmers
Managed by the national agricultural land office (ONTA)

Large projects in the South: ODAS

The office for industrial agriculture in Saharan lands (ODAS), created in 2020 and based in El Meniaa, allocates land for strategic farming projects (cereals, industrial crops…). Applications are filed on its online platform, which opens for set periods; Algerian operators based abroad have already obtained plots through it.

Before you commit

Points to check on any land:

Its legal status and the validity of the title (deed, land register booklet, concession deed)
Access to water and the permits needed for a borehole or pumping
The land's agricultural designation, which cannot be changed freely
Road access, electricity and any easements

Frequently asked questions

How long does a concession last?▼

Up to 40 years, renewable, in return for an annual fee.

Can an Algerian living abroad obtain land?▼

The concession is reserved for Algerian nationals, with no residence requirement in law 10-03. For large projects in the South, the ODAS platform has already allocated plots to operators based abroad.

How do I know when the ODAS platform is open?▼

Calls for applications are announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and stay open for a few weeks. Prepare your file (project study, financial capacity) in advance so you don't miss the window.

A farming project? Let's talk

Tell us about your project: we check which procedures apply to your case and help you prepare your file.

Other Agriculture pages

General information, up to date as of October 2026. Laws and schemes change: we check your situation before any step.

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