2024-04-25 01:30:56
Speaking at the fourth ministerial conference, organized by the École Nationale Supérieure de l’Administration (ENSA) under the theme “Agriculture and water: sustainability of food sovereignty”, Mr. Sadiki stressed that mastery of Water is called upon more than ever to play a determining role in strengthening national food sovereignty, through the development of supply and the improvement of water efficiency.
This concerns the acceleration of the implementation of the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) (2020-2027) and the Generation Green strategy (2020-2030), which aim in particular to accelerate structuring public investments for the development of water supply and demand management, as well as the adoption of the Water-Energy-Food Sovereignty Nexus approach to secure the country’s water potential.
Referring to the development of water supply, the minister said that it involves particularly the construction of new dams and the exploitation of the water potential of the Loukkos, Sebou and Bouregreg basins, not yet developed, in addition to the interconnection of the basins. and the development of desalination.
As for improving water efficiency, it is based on the modernization of irrigation systems, the valorization of water resources mobilized by dams and the development of irrigation using unconventional water, for an effort to investment of 50 billion dirhams as part of the Generation Green strategy, he continued.
In this sense, he recalled that an area of 824,000 hectares was already under localized irrigation at the end of 2023 (50% of the irrigated area), the objective being to reach one million hectares under localized irrigation at the end of 2023. horizon 2030.
Furthermore, Mr. Sadiki highlighted the relevance of placing the sustainability of the sector among the priorities, while adopting programs to adapt to climate change, such as the program for the reconversion of cereal crops sensitive to climate variability. by those that are resilient and more valuable to the land, as well as programs specific to fragile areas.
And to add that food sovereignty is also based on sovereignty in seeds and plants, sovereignty in other inputs, investment in training, research and innovation, as well as the establishment of a strategic food stock. .
For her part, the Director General of ENSA, Nada Biaz, underlined the importance of this conference which aims to be a platform for reflection and exchange of perspectives to strengthen cooperation between the different actors involved in the management of water and agriculture, namely the Government, Parliament, farmers, international organizations and civil society.
“This theme comes at the right time in harmony with the context of our celebration which is under the general theme of Water,” she said.
This conference is part of the cycle of ministerial conferences which continues at ENSA as part of the celebration of its 75th anniversary.
2024-04-25 01:30:56