Morocco’s grape industry faces water crisis despite production gains

Morocco’s eastern grape-growing region has extended its harvest season from two to six months through agricultural innovation,but severe water shortages threaten to undermine gains that have positioned Nador province as a key supplier to domestic and international markets.

The expansion from a traditional summer-only harvest to a June-through-December season resulted from introducing new grape varieties,including one officially registered with Morocco’s Agriculture Ministry,Mimoun Oussar,president of the Oriental Region’s Chamber of Agriculture,told Le360 news outlet. The diversification has enabled local grapes to penetrate markets nationwide while maintaining distinctive quality standards.

However,persistent drought conditions are forcing producers into costly adaptations. Many farmers have invested in small-scale desalination units to treat saline well water,though such measures provide only partial relief. Despite limited water releases from regional dams this year,volumes remain critically insufficient for sustainable cultivation,Oussar said.

The water crisis particularly affects grape vines,which are highly sensitive to irrigation disruptions. Kamal Drissi,a member of the Nador and Driouch Grape Producers Association,told the news outlet that last year’s drought forced premature harvesting,compromising both fruit size and quality standards.

“A single irrigation interruption can prove fatal for vineyards,” warned association president Kamal Aberkani.

Financial pressures compound environmental challenges. Establishing one hectare of vineyard requires initial investments between 300,000 and 400,000 dirhams ($30,000-$40,000),with annual operating costs exceeding 80,000 dirhams. Rising prices for predominantly imported agricultural inputs further strain profit margins.

The newly formed producers’ association aims to consolidate the fragmented sector,seeking collective bargaining power for input purchases and improved access to government support programs. Members,including diaspora investors returning to agricultural ventures,unanimously advocate for constructing a seawater desalination plant as the primary solution for securing the region’s agricultural future and preserving thousands of agricultural jobs.