Abstract
The region of Souss Massa in the south of Morocco is considered the most productive in terms of horticultural products especially destined for export. The part of the region in exportation of fruit and vegetable is about 90 % at national level. A greenhouse cropping system is the most common with more than 15,000 ha of crops grown in greenhouses. However, this region suffers from a serious problem of water scarcity, where the annual rainfall does not exceed 200 mm, and the water deficit is more than 260 Mm3. In addition to this, agriculture in this region consumes about 90 % of the water resources. Over-pumping of groundwater is among the practices aggravating the situation by lowering the water table and consequently increasing pumping costs and groundwater salinisation due to sea water intrusion, especially in the coastal areas. Using desalination of sea water for irrigation of rentable crops as tomato and berries and other vegetables crops could be a judicious solution to continue producing horticultural products and saving water.
Pumping cost in Souss Massa region is about US$0.3, and the average desalination cost is equal to US$0.5 with a little change depending on desalination technology. A study has been conducted surveying about 847 farmers representing farms of a cropping area of 12,770 ha, in order to find out their views regarding a desalination project for irrigation. 92 % of surveyed farmers accepted this project with a water demand equal to 32 Mm3, 61 % of them accepted to participate in the project investment. 42 % of the farmers agreed to pay US$0.59–0.83 for 1 m3 of desalinated water. 15 % and 4 % accepted to pay US$0.95 and US$1.18 respectively for 1 m3 of desalinated water.
This survey indicates that there is a great potential of using desalination for irrigation of rentable crops in the Souss Massa region. Farmers are aware of the water scarcity problem and they accept the use of desalinated water for irrigation. Furthermore, the progress in desalination technology will make the price of desalinated less costly in the future.
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Notes
- 1.
The Agrotech association of the Souss Massa Drâa (Agrotech SMD) is an association of institutions created in 2006 in order to create an activity advanced center in the agro-technology field in the Souss Massa Drâa region, to help companies and institutions in the field of research and development of food biotechnology. The association is public and based in the Agronomic and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II Institute, Complex of Horticulture in Ait Melloul City.
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List of Figures
Fig. 13.1 Aquifers map of Souss Massa Region
Fig. 13.2 Variation of precipitation in the Souss Massa region
Fig. 13.3 Water balance of Souss and Chtouka aquifers
Fig. 13.4 Variation of piezometric level in the Souss and Chtouka aquifers between 1968 and 2005
Fig. 13.5 Greenhouses farmers survey results
Fig. 13.6 Network distribution of the desalinated water
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Hirich, A., Choukr-Allah, R., Rami, A., El-Otmani, M. (2015). Feasibility of Using Desalination for Irrigation in the Souss Massa Region in the South of Morocco. In: Baawain, M., Choudri, B., Ahmed, M., Purnama, A. (eds) Recent Progress in Desalination, Environmental and Marine Outfall Systems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19123-2_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19123-2_13
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