Diversified Socio-Technical Systems Involving Farmers to Meet the Challenges of Water Scarcity: A Case in Middle Atlas, Morocco

In Morocco, irrigation based on groundwater use has seen a rapid rise over the past thirty years, generally in connection the adoption of drip irrigation. However, this change in irrigation practices, while promising on paper in terms of water use efficiency, has been driven more by economic factors—such as reduced labor and increased yields—than by concerns over the sustainable management of water resources. Water use efficiency of drip irrigation systems were generally low in a time of easy access to water resources.

In the Aïn Timguenai-Ouled Mkoudou-Ighezrae aquifer in the Middle Atlas mountains, fruit and vegetable farmers are facing a critical shortage of water that they can get from their boreholes. These farmers, who initially developed socio-technical systems during a time of plentiful water resources, now find themselves needing to adapt their systems to cope with increasing water scarcity.

An analysis of local practices reveals two main categories of socio-technical systems. The first, prevalent among small-scale, often family farms, involves gradual and informal adjustments. These farmers reduce the size of drippers and modify their irrigation methods, relying on local knowledge and exchange. The second category is more technologically advanced, incorporating tools like sensors or weather stations to anticipate water needs often with assistance from external experts. Some farmers combine elements of both approaches. The solutions that farmers wish to implement to address the water crisis or actually implement is heavily dependent on the type of socio-technical system they are inserted in.

Encouraging more rational and sustainable water management practices is essential to building farmers' resilience in the face of growing water scarcity. To do so, understanding socio-technical systems in which farmers are involved is critical for shaping policies that provide targeted support for different types of agriculture.