Morocco allocated MAD 40 million to urgently address the damage caused by recent flooding in several southeastern provinces, according to Mohammed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, at a meeting in Ouarzazate on Tuesday.
Following a field visit, Sadiki highlighted that a comprehensive assessment was conducted, leading to the implementation of emergency plans to address the damage and restore agricultural activities, Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) reported.
“Emergency plans have been implemented with the same level of urgency across all affected provinces,” Sadiki stated.
The recovery plan includes repairing damaged structures and restoring hydraulic systems to support the resumption of agricultural activities.
In addition to the emergency measures, Sadiki highlighted ongoing large-scale projects under the “Green Morocco Plan” and the “Generation Green” strategy. The ongoing project includes an initiative to plant five million palm trees by 2030, along with other rural development projects focusing primarily on three key areas: product enhancement, irrigation management, and support for small producers.
He also noted the establishment of the National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and Argan Trees (ANDZOA), a government agency tasked with the protection and development of oasis ecosystems under royal instructions.
Abdelkrim Ait Lhaj, President of the Regional Agricultural Chamber of Drâa-Tafilalet, commended the promising potential impact of the emergency program on the rehabilitation of ground drainage tunnels, water pipes, and the protection of oasis areas.
“While heavy precipitation caused damage to irrigation infrastructure and agricultural activities, it also offered an opportunity to small and medium-sized farmers, as it boosted water in the reservoirs,” Ait Lhaj stated.
The meeting, which was attended by Ouarzazate Governor Abdellah Jahid and Drâa-Tafilalet Region President Hro Abrou, served as a platform for the discussion of strategies to develop oasis areas and address the challenges of drought and flooding.