2011年-世界发展银行全球_Morocco_-_Oum_Er_Rbia_Irrigated_Agricultural_Modernization_Project____Helping_Farmers_Increase_Productivity_4页_258kb

MNA Knowledge Notes Summary

Core Content

This document is a Knowledge Note from the MNA (Multilateral Investment Fund) series, focusing on the Large Scale Irrigation Improvement (LSII2) Project in Morocco, specifically in the Oum Er Rbia basin. The project aims to increase agricultural productivity and promote sustainable irrigation practices by introducing high-efficiency drip irrigation systems. The project was approved in September 2010 and is planned to be completed by 2016, with the PAD (Project Appraisal Document) serving as the basis for the note.

Main Objectives

• Provide a 70 million loan to support the conversion of irrigation systems in the Oum Er Rbia basin.
• Enhance irrigation efficiency to address water deficits.
• Improve water productivity and sustainable use of irrigation water.
• Support farmers in adopting modern irrigation technologies.

Key Information

Background

• Water scarcity and degradation are severe in Morocco, especially due to uneven distribution, high variability in rainfall, and droughts.
• Groundwater is increasingly used to compensate for surface water shortages, leading to aquifer depletion.
• Urban and municipal water use accounts for about 15% of total water abstraction, but receives priority in allocation decisions.
• The Oum Er Rbia basin is critical for agricultural production, supplying half of Morocco's large-scale irrigated areas, 60% of sugar beet, 40% of olive, and 40% of milk production.
• However, LSI schemes in the basin only receive 60% of the water they were designed for.

Government Initiatives

• The Morocco Green Plan (launched in 2008) aims to promote high-value agriculture and improve productivity in poor areas.
• The Water Law (1995) initiated reforms in water management and service delivery, with River Basin Agencies responsible for integrated and participatory water resource management.

Project Design Lessons

• Drip irrigation does not always reduce overall water consumption at the basin level, as it can lead to increased use by individual farmers if water allocation is not controlled.
• Success in water management requires integrating irrigation projects into a broader water resource management framework.
• Technical assistance and targeting mechanisms are essential to help small farmers benefit from modern irrigation technologies.
• The project includes remote sensing monitoring of actual evapotranspiration and advisory services for farmers to improve irrigation and groundwater management.
• A grant was secured to build capacity in the Oum Er Rbia River Basin Agency, including groundwater monitoring.

Evaluation Insights

• The Water Resources Management Project (1999-2004) showed positive results with drip irrigation pilots on small farms, including crop diversification, increased water productivity, and higher incomes.
• Farmers used their own funds to expand the systems beyond the one-hectare pilot.

Alternatives Considered and Reasons for Rejection

1. Addressing both water quantity and quality:

   • Initially considered, but financial analysis showed that River Basin Agencies lacked sufficient resources to borrow and repay directly.
   • Therefore, the project focused on irrigation and separate projects are being developed to address water quality.

2. Improving water use efficiency for non-participating farmers:

   • The project targets direct users of the project-financed infrastructure, but spillover benefits are expected for other farmers.

3. Using storage tanks for drip irrigation:

   • This option was rejected due to infeasibility for small farmers who cannot afford individual tanks and pumping stations.

4. Promoting institutional reform:

   • The project supports the implementation of existing policies rather than initiating new reforms, as institutional changes were already addressed in the 2006 water development policy loan.

5. Using tariffs to reduce water demand:

   • Tariffs are not effective in reducing irrigation demand due to price inelasticity.
   • High surface water prices may lead to unregulated groundwater extraction, risking overexploitation.

Contact Information

• Director, MNACS: Laura Tuck
• Regional Knowledge and Learning Team: Omer Karasapan, Roby Fields, Rory O'Sullivan
• Tel #: (202) 473 8177
• MNA Knowledge Notes Website: http://mnaknotes

Conclusion

This project is a strategic initiative to improve irrigation efficiency and sustainable water use in Morocco, particularly in the Oum Er Rbia basin, which is vital for agricultural production. It draws on international experience and lessons learned, emphasizing the need for integrated water resource management, technical assistance, and policy alignment. The project avoids complexity by focusing on irrigation infrastructure, with separate initiatives addressing water quality and institutional reforms.