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This article offers an analysis of tenant farming in arid and semi-arid Algeria. Over the last three decades, some of these regions have undergone a rapid process of agricultural intensification, marked by the development of irrigated crops. A true pioneering agricultural frontier emerged on state lands, hitherto uncultivated or dedicated to pastoralism and extensive cereal production. These new agricultural areas attract many farmers from the north of the country who are experienced and well-connected to inputs and product markets through their networks. Their settlement in these areas is facilitated by the emergence of the rental market for land and water. This type of situation offers an opportunity to document the relationship between the evolution of agricultural production, the dynamics of agrarian structures, and land markets. Our analysis focuses on the role of small entrepreneurial vegetable-grower tenants. It draws on field work conducted in 2012–2013 in two areas, one Saharan, the other located in the high steppe plateaus. These two sites were chosen in view of the dynamism of both the rental market and vegetable production.