Drought-hit Morocco leans on desalination to safeguard key vegetable crops
Climate challenges push the kingdom to expand costly but vital water strategy
CHTOUKA, Morocco (MNTV) — Tomato farms in Morocco’s drought-hit Chtouka region are staying afloat with desalinated water, a vital but disputed resource that has become essential for sustaining production.
One of the country’s largest producers, Azura, now irrigates its 800 hectares of farms entirely through desalination, with company officials saying operations would not survive without it.
Morocco has endured six consecutive years of drought, crippling agriculture, which accounts for around 12% of the economy. In response, the country has ramped up desalination projects, despite their high financial and environmental costs.
The Chtouka Ait Baha plant — Morocco’s largest — has been producing 125,000 cubic meters of water daily since 2022, supplying drinking water to 1.6 million people in Agadir and surrounding areas while irrigating 12,000 hectares of farmland.
Authorities aim to expand its output to 400,000 cubic meters by 2026, half of which will be allocated to agriculture.
Officials say the project has already protected nearly $1 billion in annual agricultural revenue and secured over a million jobs in the Souss-Massa region, which provides 85% of Morocco’s fruit and vegetable exports.
But desalination comes with challenges. Water from the plant costs about $0.56 per cubic meter, even after subsidies, compared to just $0.11 for conventional sources.
For many small-scale farmers, the price is prohibitive. “I can’t afford it,” said Hassan, a farmer who relies on shared well water to grow courgettes and peppers.
Experts also warn of environmental risks. The process requires large amounts of electricity, and in 2023, more than 60% of Morocco’s power still came from coal. Brine discharges — the salty byproduct of desalination — can also harm marine ecosystems, though officials insist the brine is diluted to minimize impact.
Despite its costs, agronomists argue desalination is essential for high-value crops such as tomatoes and orchard fruits. “Without this water, the scenario would be catastrophic,” said Rqia Bourziza, an agricultural specialist.
For many farmers, it is a matter of survival. “Before, I was limited to five hectares,” said Mohamed Boumarg, who now grows 20 hectares of tomatoes, most for export. “Groundwater was not enough. Desalination saved us.”
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