Since January 16, 2025, local authorities in Zagora have intensified their control over agricultural crops to ensure strict compliance with current regulations. This operation, described as a “one-two punch” initiative, particularly targets farms where the cultivation of watermelons and yellow melons proliferates.
Interventions have already led to the destruction of illegal plantations and hydraulic installations used for these crops. The authorities mobilized teams made up of representatives of municipalities, the gendarmerie, auxiliary forces and the regional agricultural investment office. Their mission: to ensure that the provisions of the prefectural decree of October 31, 2023 are applied to the letter.
This decree imposes strict limits, in particular a restricted operating area of between 0.5 and 1 hectare for these water-intensive crops. In addition, they are now prohibited near sensitive water points such as oases or wadis. Water meters installed on agricultural wells allow local commissions to continuously monitor water consumption throughout the crop cycle.
The Zagora region, hard hit by episodes of drought in recent years, is facing increasing pressure on its water resources. This situation has fueled a public debate on the impact of intensive watermelon cultivation, deemed incompatible with the preservation of local water reserves.
Unannounced checks have already identified major infractions, provoking a firm reaction from the authorities. Engines were deployed to destroy illegal plantations and their associated equipment. These actions aim to send a clear message: no exemptions will be tolerated in the face of the environmental emergency.
-Daily life Al Akhbar reports that this surveillance and repression campaign is expected to continue in the coming days, affecting other areas where these crops remain popular. The objective is to ensure sustainable management of resources and prevent abuse in a region where water is becoming a rare commodity.
Despite these strict measures, ONSSA wanted to reassure consumers by affirming that watermelons grown in Morocco do not come from genetically modified seeds. An important clarification in a context where the sustainability of agricultural practices is closely scrutinized.
This initiative marks a turning point for Zagora, where environmental preservation takes precedence over intensive agricultural practices, thus responding to the growing concerns of residents and environmentalists.
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