Algeria

In Algeria, in the western half of the country, the winter cereals season started with delay due to low rainfall in October and November. Since December, moisture conditions improved notably and, as a result, conditions of winter cereals improved from Tlemcen to Mascara, but crop biomass remains poor in Tiaret (an important cereals producer) and Tissemlit, suggesting a reduction in the sown area. In the eastern half of the country (from Medea to the Tunisian border), rainfall was favourable since the start of season and winter cereals biomass is average to above average. According to the Copernicus C3S seasonal multimodel forecast, rainfall conditions should remain close to average till the end of the season in June-July, which should benefit planted cereals.