Moroccan Province Bans Watermelon Farming Amid Severe Drought

In his decision, the governor explained that the water resources in the region have drastically decreased due to the persistent drought that has been affecting the kingdom for six years. The measure came into effect on November 8th, and the Provincial Water Committee is responsible for ensuring strict compliance.

The ecologists and environmentalists of Zagora welcome this decision and call for also banning watermelon cultivation in their region, where water stress is more worrying and tends towards a chronic shortage situation.

This decision responds to the call of King Mohammed VI who, in his last Throne Speech, urged taking all necessary measures to protect groundwater, particularly in regions facing water crises, said Jamal Akchbab, president of the Association of Friends of the Environment in Zagora, estimating that the limitation to one hectare per farmer of red watermelon cultivation areas has further dried up the region’s water resources. He also denounces the bad practices of some farmers who manage to circumvent the governor of Zagora’s decision to install meters on wells and boreholes to measure the quantities of water extracted.

Akchbab also called for rational management of water resources after the torrential rains of September, urging farmers to turn to date palm cultivation, which is less water-intensive. Ibrahim Zine, a farmer in the province of Zagora, does not share this view, stressing that the ban on watermelon cultivation in Zagora could harm the local economy and affect the lives of hundreds of families who live exclusively from this activity. The ban on watermelon cultivation is not a good option for rationing water, he believes, stating that the cultivation of fruits and vegetables instead of watermelon would not bring any significant change to the situation.

According to engineers and farmers, a single hectare of carrots would consume as much water as three hectares of red watermelons, he informs. Zine also assured that the majority of farmers respect the one-hectare limit for watermelon cultivation, even though it is not profitable, acknowledging, however, that some farmers exceed these limits in remote areas. To address this situation, he has invited the local authorities to strengthen field supervision and control and to sanction offenders in accordance with the law. He also called for imposing sanctions on farmers who do not comply with the decision to install meters on wells and boreholes.