Japan is supporting Morocco’s irrigation projects in the Gharb region, aimed at strengthening food security and ensuring agricultural productivity.
The two nations signed a loan agreement to finance a hydro-agricultural development project in the Gharb.
The project will cover a total area of 30,000 hectares through the installation of water-efficient irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation, with the goal of strengthening food security and ensuring agricultural production in this region of Morocco.
The agreement between the two countries was signed on Thursday, November 20, in Rabat, by Minister Delegate for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Morocco Nakata Masahiro, and Director General of the Middle East and Europe Department at JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), Toyama Kei, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Redouane Arrach, and the Resident Representative of the JICA office in Morocco, Kawabata Tomoyuki.
The two countries concluded an exchange of notes on Thursday concerning a loan agreement of 64.577 billion Japanese yen (approximately 3.9 billion dirhams – MMDH) for financing the hydro-agricultural development project in the southeastern part of the Gharb plain.
This project, which aligns with national guidelines for hydro-agricultural development, particularly the Generation Green 2020-2030 strategy and the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program 2020-2027, aims to promote the widespread adoption of water-efficient irrigation techniques, especially drip irrigation, to improve water resource management.
This funding supports a major project designed to increase water use efficiency and sustainably boost agricultural production across 30,000 hectares in the Gharb plain. It also includes the construction of main hydro-agricultural canals, ancillary structures, and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.
Masahiro emphasised that this signing represents a major milestone in cooperation between the two countries, noting that it is the largest joint project undertaken by the parties involved to support irrigation in a region facing critical water-related challenges.
He stated that Morocco remains a key partner for Japan, highlighting the strength and friendly nature of bilateral relations. He noted that the kingdom’s national priorities, particularly the rational
management of water and the fight against certain illegal uses, benefit from the unwavering commitment of the Japanese side, which expressed its pride in supporting these strategic directions.
For his part, Mr. Tomoyuki affirmed that this project represents a major step forward in the modernization of irrigation in Morocco and addresses the growing challenges related to water scarcity, reaffirming Japan’s continued commitment to supporting the kingdom in its efforts to strengthen food security and promote sustainable and inclusive agricultural development. This initiative helps to strengthen food security by extending and securing irrigation in the Gharb plain, responding to increasing pressure on water resources and mitigating the effects of droughts, while consolidating Moroccan-Japanese cooperation for sustainable and all-inclusive agricultural development.
AK/Sf/fss/as/APA