Drought-Stricken Moroccan City Bans Watermelon Farming to Conserve Water

The context of severe drought and water stress has led the provincial authorities of El Jadida to take a series of measures to rationalize water. Thus, the governor of the province has decided to ban water-intensive crops such as red watermelon and carrot, reports the daily Al Akhbar.

However, permits may be issued by the competent services of the Ministry of Agriculture, in particular the Water Basin Agency, for the use of wells and the limitation of the quantities of water used for irrigation, it is specified, stressing that this measure follows those relating to the prohibition of the use of drinking water for the filling of public and private swimming pools more than once a year, the cleaning of public roads and squares, and the watering of public and private lawns and gardens.

The governor of El Jadida had also decided to close the traditional hammams as well as the car washes and lawns on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The managers of these establishments are required to respect these restrictive measures under penalty of sanctions.