Morocco launches PPA tender for development of irrigated land in Jraifia

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The Agricultural Development Agency (ADA) in Morocco has launching a public-private partnership (PPP) tender for the development of more than 224 hectares of irrigated land in the council of Jraifia in Western Sahara.

The Agricultural Development Agency (ADA) in Morocco has launching a public-private partnership (PPP) tender for the development of more than 224 hectares of irrigated land in the council of Jraifia in Western Sahara.

The tender which is open until 1 November 2022, covers the realisation of 26 projects, including 22 small projects on more than 112,073 2 hectares and four medium-sized projects on the 112,078 5 hectares of irrigated land, through the lease of state land for a long term, from 25 to 40 years.

Goal

Depending on the nature of the project, the land will be leased to young Moroccans in the Laâyoune Sakia-El Hamra region and to private investors in the framework of PPPs. Annually, the 26 projects should allow the production of 9,500 tons of market gardening and 3,100 tons of fodder crops, representing a turnover of 51 million dirhams (over 4.7 million euros).

The development of this irrigated perimeter is one of the last stages of the Jraifla hydro-agricultural development project, launched in 2016. According to the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, the stages of the project already completed include the construction and equipping of 10 boreholes (from 1,400 to 1,800 m deep), the hydroagricultural development of 1,000 hectares, the installation of water storage and treatment facilities, the laying of supply pipes, irrigation networks and tracks, localised irrigation equipment and demineralisation units.

The ultimate goal is to irrigate more than 1,000 hectares of agricultural land. The work, valued at 465 million Moroccan dirhams (nearly 43.2 million euros), was 95% completed in 2021, according to the regional director of agriculture for Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Abderrahmane El Omari.