hough agriculture provides a living for the majority of Moroccans – up to half the population is involved in the sector directly or indirectly – it accounts for just 15-20 percent of the country’s GDP. Difficult climatic conditions, especially serious drought, put extreme pressures on farmers. While Morocco is an exporter of fruits, vegetables and cereals, it is also still reliant on imports. The growing population, which jumped from just four million people to around 30 million in the last century, is intensifying the problem.

ISMAIL ALAOUI Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Forestry

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Forestry, Ismail Alaoui, says that the government is keen to help the rural community modernize production methods and to see the development of more agricultural-based industry. “Moroccan agriculture is characterized by the co-existence of both modern agriculture, and the traditional version,” he says. “Modern agriculture plays an important role as it absorbs manpower and engenders wealth, via export.”

There are other potential threats to the agricultural sector too, including the U.S. free trade agreement on the horizon, which would open the Moroccan market to American producers; conversely, it would create fresh exporting opportunities for indigenous suppliers.

Mr. Alaoui says a key thrust of the government’s agricultural strategy is tackling water shortages, in order to minimize the effects of drought on crops. It also means giving more people access to clean water and providing better irrigation systems.
Bringing potable water to the whole populace is a fundamental challenge.

ALI FASSI FIHRI Managing Director of ONEP

The National Office for Drinking Water (Office National de l’Eau Potable) (ONEP) is the state body responsible for the management and distribution of drinking water resources, including treatment stations of residual waters. Its primary mission is to provide all Moroccans with clean drinking water. Ali Fassi Fihri, ONEP’s Managing Director, says the organization’s motto is quite simple: “The right to water.”

Big developments have meant that an initial target of 2010 to achieve this vision of universal coverage should now be completed by 2006. In cities, the problem was solved a long time ago, but more than half the population, almost all in the rural areas, does not have access to drinking water. These people rely on a shared well which is often located many miles away from the family home. “By 2006, we will have linked almost all households,” says Mr. Fihri.

Agriculture strategy is geared towards tackling water shortages and minimizing wastage with improved irrigation techniques.

There is no reason to doubt that it will happen. Since 1995, the number of rural households supplied with water has doubled. In remote parts of the country, micro-firms set up by local inhabitants have provided the necessary financing to allow well drilling and canal construction. The scale of the problem has brought out the innovative side of Moroccans; even the king has become involved.

In Africa, Morocco has already pioneered the involvement of the private sector in the management of water resources. French and other foreign operators now control large water management concessions in a number of urban areas such as Casablanca. Here, a company called Lydec, which represents a consortium of French firms, was selected five years ago to take over the water and electricity distribution management. Its success in patching up both the water and power networks, increasing revenues, and connecting more customers, has been widely praised. The majority of other cities are now contemplating privatizing their own municipal management.

Improvements in irrigation will also help boost Morocco’s water availability, according to Mr. Fihri. Only 10 percent of the water produced by dams is used as drinking water, while agriculture absorbs a staggering 90 percent, a large chunk of which is wasted or lost through poor irrigation methods. “We lose more than half of our reserves of water because of the badly managed system of irrigation,” he says.

Morocco’s use of wind energy, and other renewable resources, is also creating options. In Tan Tan, a city in the Sahara, ONEP has launched a study into the possibility of setting up a desalination plant, with the aid of wind energy. “We are now examining many aspects of possible partnerships with the private sector, especially new technological options such as wind energy and desalination,” adds Mr. Fihri. He is keen to see tie-ups with American partners, as well as traditional French and European players.