فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Meknes: On the sidelines of the 17th International Agriculture Show in Morocco (SIAM) 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests organized a high-level international conference in Meknes on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, under the theme “Water Management for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture.” The event witnessed significant participation, with twenty-seven foreign delegations headed by ministers and delegation leaders representing countries and international organizations concerned with the water and agriculture sectors.
The opening session was inaugurated by Mr. Ahmed Bouari, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, who emphasized in his opening remarks, according to a press release issued by the ministry, the importance of this meeting as a continuation of efforts to implement the “Green Generation 2020-2030” strategy and the “National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Water 2020-2027.” He explained that the ministry is working on implementing concrete measures aimed at mobilizing and valorizing agricultural water, with the goal of enhancing the sustainability of Moroccan agriculture and reducing its vulnerability to accelerating climate changes.
The opening session also featured valuable interventions by Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water; Mr. Benjamin Haddad, the French Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of European Affairs; Mr. Francesco Lollobrigida, the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests; and Mr. Loïc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, who exchanged views on the challenges and opportunities related to water and agriculture in the face of climate change.
This conference served as a vital platform for strategic dialogue and the exchange of experiences and knowledge on pressing issues related to water and agriculture, and the impacts of climate change on this vital sector. It also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the Kingdom of Morocco’s firm commitment to making the water-agriculture nexus a strategic lever for wealth creation in rural areas and the promotion of the Kingdom’s food sovereignty.
In the context of increasing climate challenges, Mr. Minister Bouari pointed out that Morocco is facing its longest drought period in history, having experienced seven consecutive years of rainfall deficit, which has significantly affected plant and animal production activities and caused a substantial reduction in the quantities of water allocated for irrigation. In this regard, he cited the Royal Speech delivered by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the occasion of Throne Day on July 29, 2024, in which His Majesty called for the continuous updating of the mechanisms of the national water policy and the definition of a strategic objective, under all circumstances, which is to guarantee drinking water for all citizens and to provide at least 80 percent of irrigation needs at the national level.
The conference proceedings included two in-depth thematic workshops. The first workshop addressed the topic of “The Water-Agriculture Nexus as a Lever for Adaptation to Climate Change,” while the second focused on “Integrated Strategies and Innovations for Effective and Efficient Management of Agricultural Water.” At the conclusion of these workshops, participants shared a range of successful ideas and experiences on enhancing integrated and rational management of water resources, exploring innovations in agricultural water management, seeking appropriate financing mechanisms, and developing joint approaches for building more resilient agriculture in the face of water-related challenges.
These fruitful exchanges have opened new perspectives that will support public policies in the fields of water and agriculture and enhance cooperation among various stakeholders.
Signing of Important Agreements
At the conclusion of the conference’s opening session, the two Moroccan ministers, Mr. Ahmed Bouari and Mr. Nizar Baraka, signed two important agreements that embody the joint commitment between the two ministries to achieve sustainable management of agricultural water and enhance the sector’s ability to adapt to climate change.
The first agreement concerns the draft “Participatory Management Contract for the Fès-Meknes Aquifer.” This agreement aims to establish a participatory action program involving all stakeholders, with the goal of ensuring the environmental and economic sustainability of the Fès-Meknes plain’s aquifer through integrated and sustainable water resource management. This system seeks to achieve a balance between preserving the ecosystem and meeting the social and economic needs associated with agricultural, industrial, and urban activities in the Fès-Meknes region.
The second agreement relates to the areas of “Agriculture, Meteorology, and Climate.” It aims to establish a framework for cooperation and coordination between the two ministries through the exchange of data, information, and expertise, the development of climate services tailored to the agricultural sector, and the enhancement of the capacities of actors in this field to address the repercussions of climate change on the agricultural sector.
Source: Press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests.
