Rabat – Morocco is taking “proactive” steps to enhance water efficiency in response to climate change challenges impacting its water resources and agricultural production, Mohamed Sadiki, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, said on Friday.
Speaking at a conference in Casablanca, Sadiki detailed a number of public investments dedicated to water supply development and demand management.
Key initiatives include the construction of new dams, interconnecting water basins such as Sebou-Bouregreg-Oum Rbia-Tensift and Loukkos-Tangerois, and advancing desalination technology.
Recalling the launch of the Casablanca desalination plant, the largest in Africa, Sadiki emphasized that the seawater desalination program will alleviate pressure on conventional water resources.
The project is expected to support irrigated agriculture, particularly in areas threatened by water shortages.
“Water governance plays a crucial role in bolstering food sovereignty,” Sadiki insisted while highlighting the urgency of accelerating the 2020-2027 National Program for Potable Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) and the 2020-2030 Generation Green strategy.
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The PNAEPI has an investment of MAD 165 billion ($17 billion), while the Generation Green strategy aims to create resilient, efficient agriculture with a total investment of MAD 50 billion ($5 billion).
The strategy includes modernizing irrigation systems, developing irrigation with non-conventional water sources, optimizing water resources mobilized by dams, and promoting small-scale irrigated farming.
Sadiki highlighted that by the end of 2023, 824,000 hectares were already under localized irrigation, representing 50% of the irrigated area. The goal is to reach one million hectares of localized irrigation by 2030.
To further develop resilient and eco-efficient agriculture, Sadiki pointed to investments in water and energy efficiency, the transition of farmers to renewable energy sources like biomass and solar power, soil preservation, and adaptive farming systems to ensure resilience and sustainability.
