In a press release (The Dakhla Declaration on the Challenges of Managing Water Scarcity), sanctioning the work of this conference, organized under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the theme “Micro-irrigation in the era of technological innovation and digital transformation”, the participants advocated for water governance and the adoption of an approach promoting complementarity between water, food and energy through integrated and anticipatory public policies.
After highly commending the royal concern for water, food and energy security, the participants stressed the importance of developing skills and adopting innovative technologies and digital solutions in the field of localized irrigation to improve productivity.
They also expressed their willingness to contribute scientifically and technically to address the challenges of climate change, water scarcity, securing water, food and energy needs and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the importance of benefiting from international, national, regional and local initiatives in the field of water demand management.
Participants also called for special attention to be given to scientific research in the development of water resources, the development of public policies, particularly in the field of water, and the use of technologies that rationalize water use in agriculture, advocating for the adoption of innovative mechanisms to encourage the use of technological and digital innovations, particularly by small farmers.
They called for encouraging the participation of the private sector in the development and design of innovative solutions in the field of rationalizing the use of water for irrigation while preserving the environment. Similarly, they recommended strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors in the field of water-energy-food interdependence to meet the growing needs for water and food, thus contributing to a better balance between urban and rural areas.
Participants also recommended the creation of a space for scientific discussion, planning and collective reflection between Moroccan and international experts in the fields of water, food and energy, including Moroccan experts and skills in these fields.
This event, which is being held for the first time in North Africa at the initiative of the National Association for Land Improvement, Irrigation, Drainage and the Environment, in partnership with the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, and the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad, is attended by scientists, experts, academics, researchers, professionals and decision-makers from five continents, in addition to the expertise of Moroccans around the world and national and international specialized organizations.
“Technical visit, farms, production of high value-added crops in greenhouses, localized irrigation with groundwater in the Dakhla region” and “Micro-irrigation for small-scale agriculture, challenges, opportunities and initiatives and digital transformation for micro-irrigation management” are among the main axes of this conference.
Morocco was chosen by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) to organize the 10th IMIC following the request made by the Moroccan Committee to the ICID during the work of the 3rd World Irrigation Congress, held in Bali, Indonesia from September 1 to 7, 2019.
2024-09-19 09:40:38