Morocco Launches $8.6 Billion Water Infrastructure and Irrigation Program

According to the Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water, this program was developed in line with the King’s wishes, but also taking into account the water situation in the Kingdom and studies on this issue. It is structured around five main axes: the construction of dams for an amount of 61 billion dirhams, the management of demand and the enhancement of water in the agricultural sector for an amount of 25.1 billion dirhams, the strengthening of drinking water supply in rural areas for a budget of 26.9 billion dirhams, the reuse of treated wastewater for the irrigation of green spaces at a cost of 2.3 billion dirhams, and finally communication and awareness-raising to strengthen the awareness of the importance of preserving water resources and rationalizing its use for an amount of 50 million dirhams.

The financing already available will be provided 60% by the State’s general budget, 39% by the stakeholders, and the rest will be covered by public-private partnership. All arrangements have been made to ensure that the program is implemented on time and under good conditions. Thus, the monitoring of its implementation will be ensured by a steering committee chaired by the Head of Government, a technical commission chaired by the Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water, and regional commissions chaired by the Walis of the regions.

According to Minister Amara, the 2020-2027 National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program includes many components, including the exploration of groundwater with a view to mobilizing new resources, the construction of new seawater desalination plants to support those already operational in Laâyoune, Boujdour, Tan-Tan and Akhfenir.

As for the agricultural sector, the Minister of Agriculture stated that his department is pursuing its water-saving policy and that the component related to irrigation water supply concerns a total area of 510,000 hectares in order to satisfy 160,000 farmers. It will have to mobilize a budget envelope of nearly 9.5 billion dirhams. A. Akhannouch also stated that it is planned, under the new program, to equip an additional 350,000 hectares with drip irrigation systems.

Speaking on this occasion, the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, stressed that 7,876 douars will be programmed as part of these measures, for an estimated envelope of 9.68 billion dirhams; which will allow the generalization of the supply of drinking water to all the douars of the Kingdom, specifies the same source.