Loukkos: 42,000 Hectares Equipped with Drip Irrigation and Accelerated Agricultural Investments
Ahmed El Bouari Reviews Major Agricultural Projects in Loukkos
The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari, chaired the board meeting of the Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Loukkos (ORMVAL) in Ksar El Kébir. This meeting focused on evaluating achievements for 2025 and monitoring the execution of projects planned for 2026.
The gathering provided an overview of the main investments undertaken in the region, particularly in irrigation, modernization of agricultural infrastructure, and rural development.
Investments to Enhance Agricultural Appeal
During the occasion, Ahmed El Bouari emphasized that projects completed in recent years contribute to improving the region’s competitiveness and attracting more investments in the agricultural sector.
These investments also aim to strengthen the value of agricultural productions and support the modernization of farms, especially given the challenges related to sustainable water resource management.
Localized Irrigation Advances in Loukkos Area
Among the key projects underway is the second phase of the National Water Savings in Irrigation Program.
Work to convert sprinkler irrigation networks to localized irrigation systems is progressing across an area of 12,000 hectares, with a completion rate of 98% for external equipment.
Thanks to these investments, the area equipped with localized irrigation now exceeds 42,000 hectares, out of a total of 57,000 hectares of irrigated land in the region.
Additionally, contracts related to the supplementary irrigation project for cereals have been finalized on 5,000 hectares, while studies are underway to expand this program by an additional 12,000 hectares.
Modernization of Infrastructure and Rural Development
The board also reviewed the progress of land consolidation operations in the Dar Khrofa area, where 12,000 hectares have been addressed within a comprehensive program covering 15,000 hectares.
Construction of the second phase of the Loukkos Agricultural Hub has begun, with delivery anticipated by the end of 2027.
Meanwhile, ORMVAL continues to implement next-generation solidarity agriculture projects and improve rural infrastructure. Thus far, 125 kilometers of agricultural tracks have been developed or rehabilitated as part of a broader initiative covering 240 kilometers, aimed at facilitating access to farms and enhancing the marketing of agricultural products.
Satisfactory Budget Execution
On the financial front, indicators presented during the board meeting reflect a solid advancement of the scheduled investments.
For the 2025 fiscal year, the investment budget recorded a commitment rate of 99%, while the disbursement rate reached 74%, indicating strong implementation of major projects in the region.
Through these investments, the Loukkos region continues its transformation by consolidating its water-agricultural infrastructure, improving water resource utilization, and enhancing the competitiveness of its agriculture—a key sector for the economic development of the northern Kingdom.
