Doukkala Sahel: Mobilisation against overexploitation of groundwater resources

The consultation workshop will mark the official launch of the first draft of contract for ​water in the Doukkala area. It is a financial and technical cooperation between the various partners involved in the management of groundwater resources. It provides practical tools for managing groundwater to protect against various risks of pollution and agricultural, industrial and urban overexploitation .

The Doukkala Sahel region is particularly concerned with the exploitation of the important agricultural market garden industry that is developing and its geographical position exposing the infiltration of seawater contract ply Doukkala Sahel supported by USAID through its ECM program will provide a solution, as it will define scenarios including operation and optimal irrigation volume to be removed, while ensuring the level of the water.

The Economic Competitiveness program in Morocco will assist with this project to a successful implementation. The results of this pilot project will be an experience to reproduce on other groundwater through Morocco. The workshop of 21 March 2013 will lead to the creation of a steering committee to develop a program of concrete actions aimed at sustainable management of water, with a series of technical, regulatory and institutional measures.

The ECM program of USAID aims to support the implementation of better management of groundwater resources at its target regions; Doukkala-Abda and Oriental. Thus, it assists the hydraulic basin agencies and the Regional Offices of agricultural development in these areas to install information systems at the forefront of technology, which will help to accelerate and improve decision making. These analytical tools will also develop preventive strategies cons of the various risks associated with groundwater resources. The program has allocated a budget of nearly 500,000 U.S. dollars for the purchase and installation of equipment and software to install these systems. In addition, the program will train the staff of these institutions to integrate these new working methods.

Press Contact:

Mustapha El Haiba: 0661-77-94-14

Mustapha_Elhaiba@dai.com