December 2012: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released a report, titled “Transition to Collective Local Irrigation: Results from Experience in the Region of Doukkala,” which described the results of a pilot project on irrigation water saving and enhancement in Morocco.

The pilot project on irrigation water saving and enhancement in the Doukkala region (GCP/MOR/033/SPA) was carried out in the framework of a partnership among the Ministry of Agriculture and maritime Fisheries of Morocco, the Ministry for Environment, Rural and Maritime Affairs of Spain and FAO. The 1 180 000 US$ project was carried out by the regional office of agricultural enhancement of Doukkala (ORMVAD), with the technical assistance of FAO and the Spanish company TRAGSA. It was also carried out within the framework of FAO’s support to the implementation of the Green Morocco Plan, and in particular, its component on the national programme for irrigation water saving and enhancement.

The report outlines the main results of the projects, including that: the evolution of the system of crops rotation together with drip irrigation has lead to a diversification of the production, for the benefit of crops with higher added value; a greater number of plots were cultivated over the summer period because of the water storage basin established; the drip irrigation system has lead to decrease by 30-50% the volume of water brought to the region; one of the major constraints identified by farmers is the relatively high costs of diesel oil required; irrigation water was enhanced by 75%; and irrigation water recovery was improved. [Publication: Transition to Colleactive Local Irrigation (in French)]