Morocco: Watermelon cultivation at the heart of the debate in Tata

Morocco's Tata province is currently the scene of controversy as lobbies push for the resumption of excessive watermelon cultivation, a year after it was regulated by a prefectural decree. Morocco's water crisis has forced local authorities to take strict measures to preserve water tables, but influential players now appear to be calling for a relaxation of these restrictions. According to Al Akhbar news on November 29, 2023, a recent meeting between farmers in the region aimed to coordinate their efforts and develop a strategy to convince local authorities to lift the ban in place. The daily reports a first tangible protest action, with the mobilization of women from several douars organizing a sit-in against the ban. This movement appears to be gaining momentum, raising crucial questions about water management in a region facing persistent drought. The prefectural decree of November 2022 was introduced in the context of the serious drought which has affected Morocco since the ...