Morocco and Japan boost rural access to water and agriculture

Tuesday 17 June 2025 - 14:34

By: Zahouani Ilham

Morocco and Japan boost rural access to water and agriculture

Over 11,000 residents in Morocco’s rural provinces of Errachidia and Tinghir are benefiting from new development projects funded by Japan. As part of ongoing bilateral cooperation, Japan allocated 1.57 million dirhams to support three Moroccan associations focused on improving drinking water access and agricultural infrastructure.

Official ceremonies took place on June 11 and 12 in the two provinces to mark the handover of these community-focused projects, with the presence of Japan’s ambassador to Morocco and local authorities. The initiatives fall under Japan’s KUSANONE program, launched to support grassroots development in rural areas.

In M’daghra, Errachidia, the first project involved building a 950-meter-long concrete canal to enhance local irrigation. This effort directly benefits 2,300 people by increasing water efficiency, raising agricultural yields, and bolstering resilience against climate change impacts such as droughts.

The second project, led by the Bougafer Association, brought solar-powered water pumping and storage infrastructure to Taghzout Nait Atta in Tinghir. With this new system, local agriculture becomes more sustainable, water use is optimized, and cultivated land can be expanded offering improved food security for around 3,800 residents.

In the same province, the Azag Association implemented a third project to address the lack of potable water in the Ouaklim village. Now serving approximately 5,000 people, the new system eliminates the need for long-distance water collection particularly easing the burden on women and children and helps reduce rural migration.

Since its launch in 1989, the KUSANONE program has supported 374 local projects across Morocco, with total funding reaching 180 million dirhams.