Moroccan Group Warns of Watermelon Farming’s Toll on Water Resources

An official letter was addressed to the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, to demand urgent action. The association highlights the threat posed by this crop, foreign to the region, to the ecological balance and its role in aggravating climate and social crises.

Already facing major environmental and climate challenges, Zagora sees its natural resources even more solicited by this unplanned cultivation. The considerable water needs of watermelon lead to the depletion of groundwater, directly threatening the livelihoods of populations, heavily dependent on date palm cultivation.

The association recalls a decision by the governor, dated October 11, 2024, which canceled two previous ineffective decisions in the face of the circumvention of some farmers. It insists on the outright ban on the cultivation of watermelon, regardless of its variety, warning of the serious environmental consequences and repercussions on biodiversity and the inhabitants. The stakes are high.

The association calls for sustainable development policies, in line with the royal directives for the preservation of water, and requests the intervention of the Minister of the Interior to prohibit this cultivation. It insists on respecting the specificities of Zagora and mitigating the damage suffered by the inhabitants and their environment. Last November, a measure had already been taken by the governor to limit this cultivation, after significant rainfall having improved water reserves.