Morocco has obtained $420 million from Japan to support irrigation, enhance farming, and strengthen water management as the country confronts worsening droughts and water scarcity.
The North African nation signed a loan agreement for $420.1 million to fund a large hydro-agricultural development project in the Gharb region, aiming to improve water-use efficiency and promote sustainable agricultural production across 30,000 hectares of the Gharb plain, Morocco World News reported.
The project includes constructing main hydro-agricultural canals, upgrading associated infrastructure, and reinforcing existing irrigation networks.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Redouane Arrach, and Kawabata Tomoyuki, Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Office in Morocco.
The agreement was signed by Delegate Minister for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa, Japan’s Ambassador to Morocco Nakata Mashiro, and Toyama Kei, General Director for the Middle East and Europe at JICA.
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Moroccan authorities stated that the project aligns with national strategies, including the Generation Green 2020–2030 plan and the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation 2020–2027.
The initiative seeks to expand water-efficient irrigation technologies, particularly drip irrigation, to manage scarce water resources more effectively.
Morocco faces growing pressure on its water resources due to declining rainfall, groundwater depletion, and long-term climate impacts, compounded by the Sahara Desert’s arid conditions. These challenges threaten food systems and agricultural production, particularly in rural areas.
Morocco is consistently ranked among the world’s most water-stressed countries. A 2023 World Bank report noted that “with a water endowment of nearly 620 cubic meters per person and per year, it is already in a situation of structural water stress.”
The World Bank has urged major investment in large-scale water infrastructure, warning that current measures remain insufficient to address the deepening crisis.
Japan’s support for the Gharb project positions Morocco among a growing number of African nations strengthening external partnerships to secure water resources, expand irrigation, and enhance agricultural resilience in the face of intensifying climate pressures.
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