Water Security in Souss-Massa: Wali Amzazi Brings Together the World Bank and ORMVA to Fast-Track a Strategic Irrigation Modernization Project

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the sustainable governance of water resources and improve irrigation-water management in the Souss-Massa region, Mr. Saïd Amzazi, wali of the Souss-Massa region and governor of the Agadir Ida-Outanane prefecture, chaired a working meeting on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the regional headquarters. The meeting focused on reviewing progress on the Irrigation Resilience and Sustainability Enhancement (REDI) project, in the presence of the director of the Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Souss-Massa (ORMVA) and representatives of the World Bank.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the project’s various components and assess progress on scheduled activities, particularly those relating to the modernization of irrigation-service infrastructure and the strengthening of water-resource governance in response to the challenges posed by water scarcity, as well as the improvement of agricultural advisory services and the expansion of access to modern irrigation techniques.

Participants also discussed measures related to the implementation of the Chtouka aquifer contract, which aims to ensure the sustainability of water resources and strengthen the balance among the various water sources, particularly surface water, groundwater and desalinated water. They stressed the importance of coordination and consultation among the various stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the project’s different components.

In this context, progress on the modernization of the Massa irrigated perimeter was presented. Completion rates have reached advanced levels for several operations, reflecting the efforts made to improve the performance of the irrigation system and increase its efficiency.

The meeting underscored the importance of maintaining coordination among the various partners and stakeholders and accelerating the implementation of the remaining activities in order to achieve the project’s objectives, strengthen the resilience of the Souss-Massa region’s agricultural sector in the face of water stress, and consolidate the foundations of sustainable, highly profitable agriculture.