Morocco/Dakhla: Launch of a mega project of irrigated agricultural perimeter of 5,200 ha based on water desalination and wind power
The Ministry of Agriculture launched on September 5, a call for tenders for Public-Private Partnership around the agricultural land of the private domain of the State in the region of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab. This project consists in the creation of a new irrigated perimeter of an area of 5,200 ha as part of the major integrated project of desalination of sea water using wind energy, at the level of the town of Bir Anzarane, said a statement from the Ministry.
This tender will allow the development of a new irrigated area through the allocation of land, under the private domain of the State, to young Moroccans from the region of Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab and private investors under the operation of Public-Private Partnership, through long-term lease ranging from 25 to 40 years depending on the nature of the projects.This call for tenders will allow the development of a new irrigated area through the allocation of land, under the private domain of the State, to young Moroccans in the region of Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab and private investors in the context of the operation of Public-Private Partnership, through the long-term lease ranging from 25 to 40 years depending on the nature of the projects.
The land concerned will cover a total area of 5,200 ha, divided into 219 projects distributed as follows:
- 100 small projects of 5 to 10 ha intended for young people in the region,
- 78 medium projects from 10 to 40 ha,
- 34 large projects from 40 to 147 ha,
- 7 projects of aggregation superior to 147 ha.
The agricultural development will be based on the development of early market gardening, especially under greenhouses, other crops with high added value and fodder crops. These products will be intended primarily for the national market to strengthen food security in the context of an upstream-downstream integration that will be ensured through the establishment of at least 7 aggregation projects around units of value.
"This project will create a strong economic dynamic in the region of Dakhla Oued Ed-Dahab through the mobilization of private investment for the development of this area estimated at 2.5 billion dirhams that will generate a production of over 415.000 T of vegetables and will create an annual added value of more than 1 billion DH and more than 10,000 permanent jobs, "said the statement.
The creation of this new agricultural area is part of the integrated project of desalination of sea water in Dakhla operating by wind energy which is carried out by a public-private partnership and includes a unit of desalination of sea water by reverse osmosis.This is a public-private partnership and includes a seawater desalination unit by reverse osmosis with a capacity of 30 millionm3 per year and a wind power generation park, a renewable energy as well.olienne, a renewable energy as well as the hydroagricultural development including an irrigation network to serve the perimeter. The total investment is 2 billion dirhams including 1.53 billion public contribution and 470 MDH contribution of a private partner.
"The project based on the desalination of water me,r will promote the preservation of groundwater resources, and by operating on renewable energy (wind), will ensure the sustainability of production systems. It will also provide the necessary guarantee and visibility for investors to make their investments and honor their contractual commitments to the market. The project also has a potential for attracting young people in terms of employment in agricultural activities and related services, "says the statement.
The details of the specifications of this tender is published on the website of the Agency for Agricultural Development www.ada.gov.ma.
Source: lematin.ma
