FAO Launching of an Important Project to Fight Drought in Morocco, with financial support from Spain

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that it would provide technical assistance for Morocco's National Irrigation Water Conservation Plan. The desert kingdom has suffered from water shortages for the past 20 years and the national government wants to make irrigation more efficient by upgrading infrastructure and introducing more water-saving methods. The FAO will help establish a pilot two-year project in the Doukkala-Abda region and the Spanish government will contribute to it financially.

The project receives financial support from Spain, with funds from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). This is the first field project to be funded by the Ministry with technical assistance from FAO.

The Spanish Government’s total contribution is 920.000 euro (about US$1.18 million). It will enable FAO to provide technical assistance and will pay for irrigation infrastructures to be modernised.

After the project signing ceremony held in 11th June, representatives from the Governments of Morocco and Spain, together with members of the FAO delegation, conducted a tour of inspection in the Doukkala area to examine the state of irrigation infrastructures and areas currently under irrigation.