From SIAM Agriculture Fair: Mr. Bouri Announces the Development of an Ambitious Irrigation Program
The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Ahmed Bouri, announced today, Tuesday in Meknes, the development of an ambitious irrigation program for the upcoming summer.
Speaking at the opening of a high-level international conference held on the occasion of the 17th edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM), Mr. Bouri stated that a comprehensive irrigation program will be prepared for the coming summer, taking into account the season’s blessed rainfall, which has significantly improved the water situation.
The Minister emphasized that this program will be developed in close coordination with the Ministry of Equipment and Water.
He also noted that the improvement of pastures in most grazing areas will contribute to the success of efforts aimed at restoring the national livestock herd—considered a strategic priority—in line with the Royal Message urging the suspension of the sacrificial ritual this year, which will provide an opportunity for herd reproduction.
He added that this will enable a gradual return to pre-2020 production levels, confirming that the Ministry is working on a comprehensive program to support livestock breeders and enhance the productivity of the national herd, as a necessity to achieve food sovereignty in this sector.
Mr. Bouri recalled that, within the framework of implementing the Green Generation 2020-2030 Strategy, the mobilization of water resources and the improvement of irrigation efficiency are key pillars in shaping the future trajectory of Moroccan agriculture and rural development.
He expressed confidence that securing irrigation water supplies for agriculture, in line with the High Royal Directives, will strengthen “our country’s resilience to climate change, ensure proper supply to the national market, and preserve our competitiveness in international markets.”
In this context, the Minister outlined several ongoing measures to mobilize and rationalize water resources allocated to agriculture, as part of the Green Generation Strategy and the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Water 2020-2027.
These include modernizing irrigation networks to better valorize water use, expanding water-saving localized irrigation, and increasing the area under drip irrigation—which currently covers 54% of the equipped agricultural area—to over 70% by 2030.
Mr. Bouri also highlighted efforts to increase water supply by building new dams in areas with abundant water resources and implementing projects to interconnect water basins, transferring excess water currently flowing into the sea toward central regions suffering from structural water shortages.
It is expected that approximately one billion cubic meters of water will be mobilized annually from the Sebou Basin and northern basins, and transferred to the Bouregreg, Oum Er-Rbia, and Tensift basins, which are experiencing shortages of this vital resource.
Additionally, seawater desalination plants powered by renewable energy are expected to be established, to alleviate pressure on traditional water resources and ensure the sustainable provision of irrigation water for high-value crops. This will contribute to agricultural development and the creation of new job opportunities.
The opening session of this high-level conference was attended by the Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka; French Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad; Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests, Francesco Lollobrigida; and the President of the World Water Council, Loïc Fauchon.
The International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco is held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from 70 countries, from April 21 to 27, under the theme “Agriculture and the Rural World: Water at the Heart of Sustainable Development.”
This exhibition, which serves as a true forum for agricultural policies, represents a key event to strengthen exchanges, consolidate international partnerships, and highlight practical solutions to the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
#Adil EL ARABI