Morocco’s oases struggle to survive amid growing desertification

Africanews (in English)

Morocco’s oases struggle to survive amid growing desertification  In the Moroccan town of Skoura, a once-thriving oasis is facing an uncertain future. Known for its fertile land and steady water supply, the Skoura Oasis is now drying up as desertification intensifies.  READ MORE : http://www.africanews.com/2025/07/15/moroccos-oases-struggle-to-survive-amid-growing-desertification  Subscribe on our Dailymotion channel and receive all the latest news from the continent.    Africanews is available in English and French.  Website : www.africanews.com  Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/  Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

Transcript

00:00This is an oasis in the Moroccan town of Shakura,

00:04once a fertile haven where water was always within reach.

00:08But growing desertification is taking its toll, the oasis is drying up,

00:12and now farmers are scrambling to find new ways to access water

00:16and save their crops from vanishing in the feet.

00:24To irrigate the oasis, we dig wells,

00:26but we have noticed that the water level in these wells drops year after year.

00:31As a result, we are forced to dig deeper to access water.

00:35The solution we have to cope with water scarcity is the use of drip irrigation,

00:40which allows us to save water and use it more efficiently.

00:46It's not just farmers.

00:48The dry conditions are hitting the whole Shakura community,

00:51including local oil producers.

00:55One of the major challenges faced by cooperatives in the region

01:01is the continued years of drought,

01:03which have had a significant impact on trees such as olive trees.

01:07This has affected the whole population

01:09and contributed to an increase in migration towards cities.

01:12The work we do as a cooperative focuses on supporting and training farmers,

01:17as well as seeking solutions in partnership with the relevant authorities to help reduce climate-related migration.

01:27The experts in Shakura are looking ahead, seeking long-term solutions to support farmers in the future.

01:34Today, there are some very important plans underway.

01:43First, to ensure the sustainability of water resources.

01:46New water points are being established and residents are being supplied with water from small and medium-sized dams,

01:53such as Arkdez Dam and others.

01:56Second, recent rainfall has led to the formation of Lake Irikiri,

02:01which is now considered one of the largest lakes in the region,

02:04and could help provide water to some oases.

02:07Third, a program to rehabilitate the oases has been launched,

02:11which includes reforestation efforts and controlling urban sprawl,

02:15to preserve the oases' environment.

02:20The United Nations says 40% of Morocco's oases have lost cultivated land,

02:26with unsustainable conditions driving down farmers' incomes.

02:30If we're not to, it's to be the only one of the largest lakes in the region.

02:50This is a blend of water.

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