Modernization of Irrigation Systems in Morocco: The Cooperative Conversion of Surface to Drip Irrigation

ABSTRACT The recent increase in the frequency of drought events in many parts of the world has resulted in less water being available for the competing water using sectors, such as domestic water supply, agriculture, industry, and recreation. Therefore, efficient use of irrigation water in agriculture has become a major objective of worldwide water policies. In response to the water scarcity challenge, Morocco has set up a National Irrigation Water Saving Programme that converted 550,000‐ha agricultural land in the El Haouz area in the south of Morocco from surface to drip irrigation. The program was conducted between 2008 and 2020 with the overall strategy to enhance the management of the existing facilities and reduce water losses. This paper is reporting the outcome of a project that was carried out in the Ouled Said Taourirt Skhirat area in eastern Morocco. It covers 5453 ha served by 2700 farmers. The project was financed by the European Investment Bank. The implementation cost of 37Million US Dollars covered the establishment of the water supply network, while the irrigation equipments were provided to the farmers by the framework of the Agricultural Development Fund. Morocco faces many challenges concerning the infrastructure and the management of its water network and irrigation practices. There are concerns particularly related to the acceptance of farmers to adopt new irrigation techniques, the readiness of the water network managers to implement new management and maintenance systems, financial support for the work to be done, and provision of guidance to the farmers. To ensure the sustainability of that type of projects, it is important to involve the farmers and to take their expectations into account both in terms of crop yield and their adaptation to the new irrigation system management. The latter requires conducting training sessions and experimental field trials to help the farmers to implement the new system and improve their agronomic practices. In this regard, “Associations of Water Users for Irrigation” were set up to organize the participation of farmers and allow them to play a key role in the management and engagement in cooperation with the Regional Office executives.