Dynamics of Irrigated Agricultural Expansion and Its Impact on Water Resource Sustainability: The Case of the Tafraata Plain, Northeastern Morocco
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Abstract
Irrigated agriculture plays an important role in meeting and achieving global food security, and irrigation is an important factor in agricultural production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. However, agriculture is the largest consumer of water globally, with groundwater providing an estimated 40% of global irrigation. Irrigated agriculture in the Tafrata plain in northeastern Morocco is the largest consumer of water, which could negatively affect the sustainability of agricultural activity in the future.
This study aims to analyze the dynamics of the development of irrigated agricultural areas and their impact on groundwater resources, thereby contributing to the rational planning of irrigation water and promoting the sustainability of agricultural activity in the medium and long term. The results of the study show that since the late 20th century, the study area has witnessed a significant expansion of irrigated agriculture, accompanied by notable changes in the agricultural landscape, as the plain has been transformed from a semi-arid area to a productive agricultural area. However, the intensive exploitation of groundwater poses a threat to the sustainability of agricultural resources. These findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers to enhance the sustainability of irrigation, improve water resource management, and increase agricultural productivity to achieve development and preserve natural resources.
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