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Erfoud — On its second day, the 14th edition of the International Date Fair organized a scientific forum focused on “research and innovation in the service of water resource sustainability in oases,” featuring a panel discussion on water as a lever for sustainability and adaptation in oasis systems.
Officials and experts gathered to address the critical water challenges facing Morocco’s oasis regions.
Confronting structural drought
Guir-Ziz-Rhéris Hydraulic Basin Agency (ABH-GCR) director Moulay M’hamed Slimani said that the choice of water as this year’s theme stems from a deep understanding of the critical situation that confronts oases.
“Water resources play a vital, strategic, and important role in oasis areas,” Slimani added, noting that drought represents the biggest structural challenge these regions face.
He spoke of the volatile nature of water availability in recent years. “Last year we saw exceptional rainfall that helped improve water reserves in dam basins and groundwater tables,” he said.
“But before 2024, we lived through 2023 — the fifth or sixth consecutive year of drought — where water storage reached alarming levels.”
Rising demand for water compounds the problem, particularly from agriculture. Slimani noted that oasis regions experienced significant agricultural expansion under Morocco’s Green Plan, intensifying pressure on already-strained groundwater resources.
Strategic response and community solutions
Authorities have launched multiple initiatives to manage water scarcity. Slimani described how regional water committees, operating under provincial authorities, played a crucial role during drought periods by implementing emergency measures.
The National Program for Drinking Water Supply 2020-2027 forms another pillar of the response, utilizing a network of dams across the region. “In Draa-Tafilalet, we have major technical infrastructure, including dams and distribution programs involving all professional stakeholders,” the official said.
Groundwater exploration has become essential for supporting agricultural projects. ABHGCR; director stressed a shift toward collective rather than individual well-drilling permits. “We prefer to give licenses for collective wells instead of individual ones,” he explained. “This approach promotes solidarity and ensures more efficient use of water resources.”
Authorities also work to rehabilitate traditional khettara irrigation systems and water diversion structures. “We collaborate with all partners to develop exploration programs, and after building these water barriers, we must work on their rehabilitation to ensure proper use,” the official said. “We coordinate with agricultural services to maintain the water diversion structures.”
International partnership and expertise
Mohamed Amrani, representing the Food and Agriculture Organization’s North Africa office, spoke of the organization’s commitment to oasis ecosystems.
“We work a lot on fragile ecosystems, including oases, mountains, and desert ecosystems,” Amrani said during an interview with Morocco World News (MWN) on the forum’s sidelines.
The FAO has implemented several projects in Morocco’s oasis regions. “We had the GEF project here in the latter village,” Amrani told MWN. “We worked on many aspects — ecosystem development, human development, and natural resource management — to ensure sustainability of these fragile ecosystems.”
Amrani stressed that water scarcity is a defining challenge for oasis development. “Water scarcity is very important in oases,” he said.
The FAO currently runs a regional water scarcity project spanning North Africa and the Middle East, with Morocco among the beneficiary countries.
The organization also facilitates South-South cooperation, allowing Morocco to share its water management expertise with other African and Middle Eastern countries. “Morocco is a donor of experience to different countries,” Amrani said, adding, “We try to leverage all these experiences at a global level.”
The 14th International Date Fair runs through November 2 in Erfoud, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and agricultural experts to address the intertwined challenges of sustainable development and water security in Morocco’s oasis regions.
Running from October 29 to November 2, the fair also provides a platform for more than 90,000 visitors to visit several themed pavilions across 40,000 square meters.
