Morocco Considers Watermelon Ban Amid Water Scarcity Concerns

"Watermelon cultivation consumes huge amounts of water, which puts a lot of pressure on water resources in the southeast," explains an activist in the field of the environment, stating that relying on seasonal rainfall is not enough to justify the continuation of this type of agriculture. According to him, reducing cultivated areas is not a sufficient solution. Worse, the drought affecting the region is strongly linked to the expansion of watermelon cultivation in recent years, he notes. He then calls for a total ban on watermelon cultivation in order to ensure the sustainability of the water table in the affected regions, such as Tata, Zagora, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Errachidia and Figuig.

Partial solutions will not solve the problem at its root, reinforces another environmental activist from Zagora. According to him, it is necessary to take a strategic decision to completely stop watermelon cultivation. This cultivation is no longer just an economic activity, but has become an existential threat to the water table, he explains, warning of an imminent ecological disaster if this situation persists.

Certainly, the ban on watermelon cultivation is a necessary step to protect the ecological balance of the region, but the problem goes beyond just watermelon cultivation, as it is linked to an overall management of water resources, estimates a member of the association "Al Amana for the Protection of the Environment". Hence the importance of urgent government intervention to establish strict laws to protect water resources from depletion.