Innovative Solution

Morocco, Sebou, irrigation, capacity building, water user association

policy

Institutional

This solution focuses on the management of an irrigated scheme on the river Sebou, in theNorthern Moroccoby Water Users Associations (WUA). The Sebou Basin concentrates 20% of Morocco’s population and holds a third of the country’s water resources. This Basin is a real “water tower” for a semi-arid Morocco and the aim is to sustainably mobilize its resources. Two projects of irrigation has been implemented in Moyen Sebou (the first one from 1996 to 2001 covering6500 haof irrigated land and the second one from 2010 to 2014 covering4500 ha). 

The first project has allowed the development of the 1^st part of the irrigated scheme in Moyen Sebou and Inaouen Aval, and the creation of Water Users Associations (WUA). 12 water user associations have been created in order to manage water at farmer level and collect fees. Moreover, the WUA using a same pumping station created a new association, called “federation”, in charge of the operation and maintenance of the scheme (payments of electricity bills and wages, maintenance…). An apex body, called “Union” has been created to deal with the overall management of the irrigated scheme: the Union and the Department of irrigation signed an agreement defining the commitment s of theUnion and their member for the management of the irrigated scheme.

From 2010 to 2014 a second project has enabled the development of the 2^nd part of the scheme, including a support to the creation of new water user associations and the strengthening of  theUnion. This second project covers a4 300 haarea of alluvial terraces and7 000 haarea of adjacent hilly lands. About 25 000 persons would be concerned by the project, including 2 200 agricultural farms in irrigable area.  The project aims to increase agricultural production and productivity, and increase agricultural incomes of alluvial terraces by:

• implementing a collective irrigated system, covering4 000 haand allowing a localised irrigation or micro-irrigation (drip irrigation)
• exploring and experimenting new ecological intensification practices in hilly areas
• strengthening the capacity building of beneficiaries to whom the management of irrigation system will be transferred (capacity building of existing Water Users Associations, creation of new Water Users)

The solution is being implemented in a rural area, on the river Sebou, near Meknès and Fès urban centers (Morocco). In this semi-arid region where land pressure is important, irrigation is a key factor in order to increase and secure land productivity and then reduce poverty.

Who is currently developing this solution?*

The solution is developed by the Ministry of agriculture and fisheries of the Kingdom of Morocco (Department of irrigation) and the WUA “Union des federations d’associations d’usagers de l’eau. The French Development Agency funds the solution through two loans to the Kingdom of Morocco in  a total amount of EUR 64 millions and through a grant to the Union in an amount of EUR 500 000.  The project should be initiated by both public institutions in charge of irrigation and farmers representatives

Who should ensure follow-up of the solution at the local level?*

 The solution is developed by the Ministry of agriculture and fisheries of the Kingdom of Morocco (Department of irrigation) and the WUA “Union des federations d’associations d’usagers de l’eau. The French Development Agency funds the solution through two loans to the Kingdom of Morocco in  a total amount of EUR 64 millions and through a grant to the Union in an amount of EUR 500 000.

 The project should be initiated by both public institutions in charge of irrigation and farmers representatives

Key lessons learnt from the first project have been considered to design the second project, especially :

•  Environmental issues. The first project had implemented a gravity-fed irrigated scheme by pumping water from the Sebou river. In order to ensure better water quality, the second project will allow the use of water coming directly from the dam “Idriss the 1^st” with a significant pressure in order to allow drip irrigation, the reduction of network losses and extension of irrigation to non- flat plots. 
•  Social issues: the capacity building activities of WUA’s at each level were not sufficient during the first phase, in terms of accounting and financial management, governance, reporting… Specific activities, implemented by theUnion with the support of consultants, will tackle with these problem, in order to strengthen the WUA’s .

The solution aims at ensuring the sustainable operation and maintenance of irrigation by directly involving the users in the management of the irrigated scheme. The fact that users associations are in charge of the operation and maintenance of the scheme drive them to ensure fee collection among members.

This solution is deeply innovative inMorocco, where irrigation schemes are managed by public institutions (called “Office de mise en valeur”).

The key indicators of success would be:

-          The WUA’s are able to operate and maintain  the whole scheme( indicatosr: number of days without problem, ha effectively irrigated)

-          The WUA’s are able ot collect fees indicators : (% of fee collected, financia balance )

The solution should interest every irrigated scheme with different level of involvement of users, regarding their capacities.

Emmanuel BAUDRAN, AFD – Rabat, baudrane@afd.fr

Frédéric Maurel, AFD, maurelf@afd.fr

UFAUEA : Mr Mohammed MRIOUED, Président de l’Union des fédérations des associations d’usagers de l’eau agricole du Moyen Sebou et de l’Inaouen aval (UFAUEA), Sebt Loudaya – province de Moulay Yacoub – Wilaya de Fès, mroiudnizar@hotmail.fr