OIC Workshop in Rabat To Discuss Regional Water Crisis Management Plans
Rabat – A high-level international workshop on Water Management will take place in Rabat, amid regional challenges linked to water scarcity and drought, including in Morocco.
A statement from the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), said the event will take place from May 26- 28, noting that its timing is critical as nearly 28 OIC Member States face severe water stress, including Morocco and several other countries in the MENA region affected.
'Agriculture alone accounts for more than 80% of total water use in many of these countries, placing urgent pressure on already scarce supplies,' the statement continued.
The statement also recalled a recent ministerial council that King Mohammed VI chaired on Monday to review the country's current water management performance.
During the meeting, Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Bouari said that recent rainfalls had a 'Very positive impact' on Morocco's agriculture, benefiting also the livestock population, which has significantly decreased due to water scarcity and other related challenges.
During the meeting, the King gave instructions to the cabinet to ensure the success of the herd rebuilding operations and to carry it out professionally.
Morocco canceled Eid Al Adha, which the country will celebrate without the sacrifice rituals this year due to a decrease in livestock and water challenges.
Morocco also banned the slaughter of female goats and sheep to help rebuild the livestock production.
During the same ministerial council, Minister of Water Nizar Baraka said there the filling rate of Moroccan dams stands at 40.3%. This provides 6.7 billion cubic meters of water, equivalent to one and a half years of potable water consumption.
In February, the filling rate did not exceed 28%, as confirmed by Minister of Agriculture Bouari.
IOFS' statement pledged that the workshop in Rabat will directly support Morocco's water management goals, 'offering Morocco as a platform to showcase its leadership and share its experience with other nations facing similar challenges.'
The same source also cited Morocco's efforts to tackle the water crisis, including the heavy investment in desalination plants as well as drip irrigation, among other efforts like digital monitoring systems to manage scarce resources.
'Morocco is uniquely positioned to lead this regional dialogue,' Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of IOFS, said, noting that the event is a call to collective action to address these challenges.
The workshop will take place in coordination with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), ICESCO, COMSTECH, and the OIC General Secretariat, among several other stakeholders. Tags: drinking waterdrinking water Access
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