Morocco Destroys Excess Watermelon Fields to Conserve Water

Joint commissions were dispatched to the field to ensure compliance with the governor’s decision to limit the cultivation area of watermelon and melons to a maximum of one hectare in Zagora. Thus, all plantations of these two fruits whose area exceeds the set limit have been destroyed in several communes of the province, reports the daily Al Akhbar.

By proceeding with the destruction of these watermelon and melon crops, the authorities are reminding all farmers who defy the law by not respecting the governor’s decision dated October 2022. This decision limits the cultivation of watermelons and melons to half a hectare and a maximum of one hectare, and prohibits it in areas supplied with drinking water such as the Draa valley, in the oases, near wadis, etc.

A local commission has also been set up to read the meters installed on the wells in order to assess the quantities of water used for irrigation, the daily reports, specifying that this commission is also responsible for monitoring the evolution of the groundwater level and ensuring the proper application of the texts by the farmers wishing to produce watermelons and melons.