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Watermelon farming in Zagora has exploded in recent years, but it’s taking a serious toll on the region’s groundwater, says a paper by the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA).

The Green Morocco Plan (2008-2020) and its successor, the Green Generation (2020-2030), played a big role by providing financial support to farmers. This made it easier for them to access precious groundwater, leading to overuse.

Back in 2007, watermelon farming in the region was small-scale. Farmers planted it in January to hit the market early, and it quickly took off, driven by high profits and the shorter growing cycle of the fruit.

By 2017, watermelon farming had expanded from just 2 hectares to nearly 20000 hectares. This rapid growth led to a sharp rise in water extraction.

Watermelon farming uses a huge amount of water, with groundwater extraction for this crop jumping from 5 million cubic meters in 2014 to over 12 million cubic meters by 2017—almost 64% of total water withdrawals in the area.

This strain on groundwater is worsened by the region’s growing drought, which slows down the replenishment of underground water sources.

As a result, local residents are now facing increasing water shortages. Four out of eleven key wells have dried up over the years.

The production capacity of groundwater has dropped dramatically, from 1.8 million cubic meters in 2005 to just 0.7 million cubic meters in 2018.

Some villages still rely on water trucks to get their daily supply, and the agriculture that depends on groundwater is suffering.

Although the authorities have imposed strict limits on watermelon farming in some areas, it hasn’t stopped the trend. Watermelon farming is still expanding in other parts of the region, continuing to put pressure on an already strained resource.

Despite international reports classifying Morocco as a country facing severe water stress, investment in water-hungry agriculture continues.

Lands are being leased to powerful investors to set up large farms near already-depleted water sources.

Some community organizations have managed to push back, successfully stopping certain projects, but the larger issue remains.