- 17:30Morocco's Consumer Price Index Stabilizes as Core Inflation Climbs
- 17:15Bridging Economies: Quebec and Morocco Forge New Paths for Collaboration
- 17:00France-Morocco Relations Set to Deepen: Macron's Strategic State Visit Announced for Late October
- 16:40Dunedin Airport Implements Three-Minute Hug Limit to Enhance Traffic Flow
- 16:20Estonia Endorses Morocco's Autonomy Plan as Credible Solution for Sahara Region
- 16:00Bridging Cultures: A Celebration of Andalusian Heritage in Madrid
- 15:30Morocco Firmly Rejects UN Envoy's Partition Proposal for Sahara
- 15:24Star Power: How Celebrities Shape Voter Choices in the 2024 Presidential Election
- 14:45UN Envoy Signals Potential Shift in Sahara Mediation Efforts
Follow us on Facebook
Unlocking Morocco's Water Challenges: A Deep Dive into Mismanagement, Drought, and Innovative Solutions
Currently in its sixth consecutive year of grappling with a persistent lack of precipitation, Morocco faces a critical challenge exacerbated by a surge in water consumption demand and consecutive years of drought. To address this, the government has resorted to immediate measures, including the implementation of artificial rainfall.
In an interview with Professor of Climatology Mohammed-Saïd Karrouk emphasized that while the lack of precipitation is not a new phenomenon in Morocco, the media continues to treat it as a contemporary issue. He pointed out that Morocco's true predicament lies in the inadequate administration of its existing water resources, attributing the prolonged drought to limited water resources. King Hassan II initiated the dam policy in response to recurring droughts, allocating a significant portion of the state's budget to construct an impressive collection of dams with a capacity to store over 18 billion cubic meters of water.
However, Karrouk highlighted that despite the construction of these dams as a drought mitigation strategy, the nation consistently experiences water scarcity annually, revealing shortcomings in water management.
According to the professor, autumn serves as a transitional phase between summer and winter, during which seasonal phenomena alternate naturally. "The absence of substantial precipitation by the end of November does not necessarily indicate that there will be none during the winter," clarified Karrouk. He drew attention to the frequently disregarded phenomenon of fog, which envelops Moroccan communities, especially those on the coast. Fog plays a crucial role in agricultural revitalization and soil moisture, compensating for the lack of precipitation in many regions.
Environmental authority Mostafa Benramel noted that the dearth of precipitation aligns with the World Meteorological Organization's declaration of the El Niño phenomenon for the year, contributing to a rise in global temperature, wildfires, and floods. Benramel anticipates extreme manifestations of this phenomenon persisting until spring, with significant precipitation expected in January and February.
Benramel warned of a substantial negative impact on the quality and quantity of this year's agricultural harvest, particularly for unprotected and rainfed crops. He highlighted the resilience of irrigated and covered crops in maintaining a high degree of yield security.
On cloud seeding or artificial rainfall, the expert opined that, being a novel endeavor, its effects would not be substantial this year. He recommended that Morocco increase research investments and explore alternative water sources, including effluent treatment and seawater desalination for agricultural irrigation.
Furthermore, Benramel suggested that the agricultural sector could benefit from water conservation measures, especially in Souss and the western region of Larache. However, he expressed skepticism about the substantial impact of these measures on the agricultural sector in the southern region or central areas like Al Haouz.