Tata Residents Protest Water-Intensive Watermelon Farming Amid Drought Concerns

Demonstrations have been organized in the streets of Tata to protest against the lack of regulation governing the cultivation of watermelons, reports the Arabic-language daily Al Akhbar. At the origin of these outbursts of anger, the arrival in this province of new investors known to operate in the cultivation of watermelons. The latter have even created an association in order to "be able, if necessary, to sue any action that could harm their business, with the blessing of certain elected officials and certain major investors".

Tata is also on a crusade against undeclared wells used to irrigate watermelon crops. This action is not to the liking of the Souss-Massa Chamber of Agriculture. The latter has therefore seized the governor of the province to put an end to the operation.