Significant Agricultural Developments in Souss-Massa
The recent meeting of the Board of Directors of the Regional Agricultural Development Office of Souss-Massa, held in Agadir and presided over by Ahmed El Bouari, has highlighted the impressive performance of agricultural sectors within the region. This gathering focused on reviewing the outcomes of the 2025 fiscal year and monitoring ongoing programs, reinforcing the region's strategic importance in national agricultural development. With over 118,000 hectares equipped with localized irrigation systems, the region has made a substantial contribution to national citrus and vegetable exports, alongside achieving budget execution rates exceeding 97%. The meeting took place on July 14, 2026, and included key discussions led by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari, who underscored the region's critical role in national agricultural production, the advancement of high-value agricultural sectors, agricultural exports, and employment generation. The Minister emphasized the need for ongoing modernization efforts in the agricultural sector and the acceleration of structural projects, especially given the challenges posed by climate change and dwindling water resources.
Investment and Sustainability Initiatives
During the meeting, the director of the office presented both technical and financial achievements for the 2025 fiscal year, along with the status of the 2026 budgets. This gathering served as a platform to evaluate the agricultural sectors for the 2025-2026 campaign and to assess the progress of major irrigation and hydro-agricultural development programs, including the National Water Savings in Irrigation Program (PNEEI), the Small and Medium Hydraulic Program (PMH), and the Resilience and Sustainability of Irrigation Project (REDI). The 2025 fiscal year was marked by continued investments aimed at enhancing agricultural sustainability and improving water resource efficiency. The office noted that the area equipped with localized irrigation systems has now surpassed 118,000 hectares, demonstrating significant progress in irrigation modernization.
This meeting also provided an opportunity to review the operation of the seawater desalination plant supplying the Chtouka plain, a flagship project within the agricultural strategy aimed at strengthening the agricultural economy of the Chtouka plain. The Souss-Massa region remains the leading production basin for citrus fruits and early vegetable crops, accounting for over 65% of national citrus exports during the 2025-2026 agricultural campaign, further solidifying its role as the primary supplier of fruits and vegetables in the national market. From a financial perspective, the budget execution demonstrated strong performance, with 100% of the investment budget for 2025 committed and 98% issued, while the operational budget recorded a 97% execution rate and an 81% issuance rate. Additionally, the recovery rate for irrigation water fees on eligible receivables reached an impressive 98%. As for the current fiscal year, as of June 30, 2026, the investment budget indicated commitment and issuance rates of 99% and 46%, respectively.
As reported by aujourdhui.ma.
