Terrorism a hot potato in Algeria

Anti-terrorism measures stepped up by the Algerian authorities are making the people of the country go hungry.

The Algerian Agriculture Ministry has made a decision to reduce the use and distribution of potato fertilizers which, according to local security services, can be used by terrorists to fabricate bombs.

Local farmers use ammonia to improve their crop yields, especially potatos, the most commonly used vegetable in Algeria.

The authorities hope this move could help stop al Qaeda militants from using fertilizers as a bomb-making ingredient.

Several years ago, Algerian security services discovered a number of ammonia storages in the east of the country, where al Qaeda was using it as the basis for deadly explosives.

In the meantime, potato prices have already soared, going from 50 cents to almost one and a half dollars.