Red watermelon depletes Zagora's water table

The Zagora region in Morocco is facing a severe ecological crisis resulting from the widespread cultivation of red melons (Dallal). This crop consumes enormous quantities of water, ranging between 300 and 500 liters per kilogram, threatening the stability of the area's water resources. The excessive depletion of aquifers has led to a drop in groundwater levels and the drying up of historic springs, along with the death of large areas of date palms, which had been considered an environmental symbol of the region. Despite government decisions to regulate melon cultivation and designate planting areas, some parties disregard these laws in pursuit of quick profits, further endangering the oases and transforming them into arid lands. This situation risks causing severe water shortages and forced environmental migrations. There is an urgent need to ban water-intensive crops, enforce strict monitoring of illegal well-drilling, and promote sustainable farming practices compatible with the desert environment. The goal is to preserve water resources and maintain the ecological balance of the oases.

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