The National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and its Israeli counterpart Mekorot have signed, on Thursday in Marrakech, a memorandum of understanding on drinking water development and sanitation projects.
As part of a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for water efficiency and sustainability in North Africa, a group of 26 Moroccan farmers was in Palos de la Frontera (Huelva) on Wednesday to learn about the irrigation system.
The inhabitants of the city of Tata are expressing their opposition to the cultivation of watermelons because it dries up the water tables and puts them in difficulty during periods of drought and water crisis.
To address the severe water shortage, the city of Tangier has just adopted a project to build a seawater desalination plant .
To deal with the water deficit, the Moroccan government has decided to suspend subsidies for crops that consume the most water, such as watermelon, avocado and new citrus plantations.
The Spanish company Abengoa, based in Seville, has decided to sell 51% of the shares it holds in the concession company that operates the desalination plant in Agadir, Morocco.
The Castel group is actively looking for a buyer for the Aïn Ifrane water brand, but without success so far. Discussions with local and international operators through an investment bank have not yet resulted in a deal.
Despite drastic measures, some Moroccan regions are facing severe water shortages. This is the case, for example, in the provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour. Thus, the Autonomous Inter-municipal Authority for the Distribution of Water, Electricity and Liquid Sanitation Management (RADEEJ) warns of the risk of water cuts.
The drinking water deficit is a concern for the Minister of Equipment and Water, who chaired the meeting of the National Committee for Monitoring the Water Situation last week.
The next olive harvest in Morocco is very threatened due to the severe drought affecting the kingdom.
In this period of severe drought and risk of water stress in Morocco, the Maroc environnement 2050 movement is calling for the "immediate cessation" of the cultivation of certain fruits such as avocado and watermelon, which are depleting groundwater.
The issue of drinking water supply management was the subject of a meeting chaired by the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch.