Summary:

As Morocco endures a severe and prolonged drought, media reports have highlighted the country’s growing reliance on desalination to sustain its vital agricultural sector.  

Recent reports indicate that in the Chtouka region, large cherry tomato producers such as Azura now depend almost entirely on desalinated seawater to survive.  

Morocco’s largest desalination plant has produced, since 2022, 125,000 cubic meters of water per day, irrigating 12,000 hectares and supplying drinking water to 1.6 million residents around Agadir, with plans to triple its capacity by 2026.  

While this strategy has helped protect an agricultural sector valued at over $1 billion and supporting more than one million jobs, the high cost of desalinated water limits its use primarily to high-value crops. 

Morocco has been experiencing a severe drought in recent years, which has considerably affected agricultural production and caused substantial challenges within the sector. In response, the government has prioritized the development and expansion of desalination projects as a strategic measure to mitigate the impacts of this environmental crisis. These initiatives have offered crucial, albeit temporary, support to the agricultural sector. 

Outlook: 

Morocco’s reliance on costly desalinated water underscores the complex trade-offs between economic resilience and environmental sustainability in Morocco’s evolving water management strategy. 

Morocco’s increasing reliance on desalination reflects a strategic effort to protect agriculture and urban water supplies against persistent drought, yet it also raises long-term concerns.  

The high cost, the difficulty for small farmers to afford it, and the environmental impact from energy use and waste make it unclear whether this solution can last over time. 

As Morocco continues to expand its desalination capacity, the success of this strategy will depend on complementary measures, such as improved irrigation efficiency, investment in renewable energy, and better water governance, to ensure that water security does not come at the expense of economic equity or ecological balance. 

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