Morocco is currently a pioneer in the field of public-private partnerships (PPP) in irrigation and seawater desalination, said the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries and Rural Development on Tuesday in Salé. and water and forests, Mohamed Sadiki.
Speaking at the opening of the “Resilience Days in Morocco” forum, Mr. Sadiki indicated that the successes of flagship projects such as the El Guerdane PPP project, carried out in 2009 to safeguard the citrus growing zone on 10,000 hectares, and the Chtouka PPP project, carried out in 2022 for the irrigation of 15,000 hectares by seawater desalination, are today considered international textbook cases.
At the same time, the minister insisted on the efforts that Morocco has made for decades to ensure sustainable growth, less dependent on climatic hazards, and guarantee a reliable and resilient water supply.
These efforts, he continued, are part of a proactive policy, structured around bold agricultural and water strategies, with particular emphasis on rationalizing the use of water resources to cope with the increasing scarcity of this resource.
Read also: Construction of the future seawater desalination station in Casablanca by Acciona
Furthermore, Mr. Sadiki highlighted the importance of this event, which represents an important opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and best practices for capacity building, identification of innovative solutions, and development of strong partnerships. to meet the challenges of water management in a context of increasing drought.
He also underlined the continued commitment of the international community to Morocco and other regions facing similar challenges, calling for increased efforts to support the most vulnerable countries in their quest for sustainable management of this resource. vital.
For her part, the deputy director of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Dr. Rachael McDonnell, considered that the “Resilience Days in Morocco” demonstrate a commitment to continuing and expanding the partnerships leading to concrete adaptation strategies.
She also noted that IWMI’s partnership with Morocco has already made it possible to develop a solid drought preparedness plan for the country.
And to support: “Thanks to ongoing projects relating to water accounting and resilience governance at several scales, the commitment of both parties to sustainable water management is reinforced.”
On this occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, represented by the Directorate of Irrigation and Land Development. Espace Agricole (DIAEA) and IWMI.
This agreement aims to develop the sector for the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture, to optimize water productivity in territories and agricultural operations, and to support sustainable agricultural growth. A second memorandum of understanding was also signed between the National Association of Land Improvements, Irrigation, Drainage and the Environment (ANAFIDE), represented by its president Aziz Fertahi and the IWMI. This second agreement aims to improve water management practices through specific initiatives, such as increasing the efficiency and sustainability of irrigation and developing the wastewater treatment sector. .
Organized until June 28 at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, in partnership with the IWMI, these days are designed as an essential collaborative forum, dedicated to exploration and reflection on the state of Moroccan water and agricultural systems facing the challenges of climate change.
This event aims to enrich the Kingdom’s roadmap for increasing climate change resilience by providing a platform to unveil and transfer recent IWMI findings, solutions and recommendations, while highlighting the critical importance of research , development and partnerships for proactive management of climate challenges.
With MAP
