Understanding the Paradoxes of Water Resource Management in Morocco: A Critical Analysis of Modernization Discourses in Rural Areas of the El Hajeb Province (Saïss Plain, Morocco)

Morocco is facing a widespread water crisis, exacerbated by six consecutive years of severe drought. This crisis threatens not only irrigation but also urban water supply, increasing inequalities in water access across different sectors. In response, the Moroccan government has implemented several measures under the banner of "better water governance." These include large-scale projects, such as the construction of over twenty new dams and several desalination plants, aimed at securing access to new water resources for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use. These initiatives are framed through narratives of "adaptation," "resilience," and "sustainability," emphasizing the need to maintain development efforts despite water scarcity.

This presentation will explore the discourses behind these strategies, particularly the reliance on dam construction to face water shortages. While one might expect a shift in discourse away from modernization in times of crisis, we observe the opposite—an intensification of the "modernity through water" narrative. Using the example of the M'dez dam project in northwestern Morocco, we will analyze the contradictions and competing discourses surrounding water management and governance, highlighting the paradoxes inherent in the country's approach to agricultural and environmental sustainability.