2023-04-17 13:00:55
Water management is one of the great challenges of sustainable agriculture.
Management : The British Chamber of Commerce for Morocco organized, Thursday, April 13, 2023, a webinar under the theme “Water management in agriculture: Challenges and innovations for a sustainable future”. This exchange was an opportunity to discuss the issues of water management for the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
Water management is currently a major issue in the agricultural sector. To discuss this, the British Chamber of Commerce for Morocco organized a webinar under the theme “Water management in agriculture: Challenges and innovations for a sustainable future”. At the opening of this meeting, Stephan ORR, President of the Chamber, recalled the important measures taken by Morocco to meet the challenges in terms of water management in agriculture, in particular with the development of a national water saving plan for irrigation.
This plan aims to modernize infrastructure, promote the adoption of more efficient irrigation technologies and implement water-friendly agricultural practices. For his part, Tom Hill, Consul General of the United Kingdom in Casablanca, emphasized the possibilities of cooperation between Moroccan and British economic actors in the field of agriculture, in order to meet the challenges related to the use water resource efficiency. In particular, he cites technological innovation and irrigation methods that would allow farmers to diversify their activities, optimize watering to limit waste and reduce water consumption.
Mr Hill also mentioned the UK’s participation as a Alex Reed of honor at the International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM) scheduled for May. “We see this invitation as an opportunity to demonstrate not only our commitment to trade with Morocco, but also our commitment to trade in the agricultural sector at all levels: from smallholders to commercial farmers,” he said. As for Faouzi Bekkaoui, director of INRA, he highlighted the essential role of digital technology which wants to be “very important” to have sustainable agriculture in the future in Morocco through effective management of both water, supplemental irrigation and deficit irrigation. For his part, Ghani Chehbouni, from the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, noted that the production of research work is an essential element for the advancement of agriculture. However, it is crucial to find ways and tools to transmit this knowledge to farmers and to move from theory to practice.
In this regard, he recalled the “Al Moutmir” initiative launched in 2018 by the OCP Group. Indeed, this initiative represents a unique opportunity for Moroccan farmers to improve their productivity and profitability while preserving water resources. Technological advances and innovations in agricultural practices have a crucial role to play in the sustainable development of agriculture. The use of precision irrigation, for example, can help farmers save water and improve the quality of their crops. Likewise, digital tools can help farmers make informed decisions regarding fertilization and soil management, providing them with accurate data on environmental conditions and soil characteristics.
During this webinar, the director of the Cooperation and Sustainable Development Division within Crédit Agricole du Maroc, Mariem Dkhil, presented the initiatives put in place by the banking group to meet the challenges posed by climate change.
She highlighted the innovative practices initiated by the Crédit Agricole du Maroc Foundation for sustainable development, in particular through a program dedicated to sustainable agriculture in three distinct agro-ecological zones. This aims in particular to promote local food systems, while encouraging sustainable dairy production and responsible beekeeping. “Our ambition is to make the ecological transition a lever of development for our country,” she explains.
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