In Tata, pressure is mounting to allow the cultivation of red and yellow watermelons once again, despite the chronic water deficit affecting the province. In recent days, large agricultural operators and sector lobbies have intensified their efforts with local authorities to ease the prefectural decree banning water-intensive crops, reports the daily Al Akhbar.
The ban, which was implemented in November 2022, aimed to protect severely depleted aquifers after several years of drought and a decrease in natural water sources. Decree No. 224 strictly regulates agricultural exploitation, prohibits excessive or illegal water extraction, and suspends the issuance of new drilling permits in water-scarce areas, while limiting the expansion of existing wells. Water-intensive seasonal crops, such as red and yellow watermelons, are thus prohibited, with only food crops like cereals and legumes remaining permitted.
However, some agricultural stakeholders claim that the condition of the aquifers has shown signs of improvement in recent years. In this context, the provincial water commission, initially scheduled for December 4, has postponed its discussions to December 9 to examine the potential legalization of certain crops in southern Tata.
The pressures are coming from large producers, local officials, and investors in modern irrigation systems, all coordinated to influence the decision. Their goal: to overturn the decree and revive watermelon cultivation, a practice that had been suspended precisely to limit the depletion of water resources and comply with Ministerial Circular No. 19325 regarding water stress prevention.
This tension illustrates the dilemma facing the Souss-Massa region: balancing agricultural development and the preservation of a vital resource that has become scarce. While demand and investment in water-intensive crops remain strong, the priority continues to be the sustainable management of aquifers, which is essential to ensure long-term water supply for the province and its inhabitants.
With Al Akhbar