Morocco exports watermelons in bulk, despite water shortages

Despite bans on water-intensive crops such as watermelon in several regions, Morocco continues to export the fruit, becoming the top exporter to Spain in the first five months of the year.

Very juicy, watermelon is a fruit much appreciated by Moroccans and foreigners. But its cultivation requires a significant amount of water, which has led the authorities in several regions, particularly in the southeast of Morocco, to take ban measures in order to deal with the water shortage caused by the severe drought that has hit the kingdom for almost four years. Despite these bans, Moroccan watermelon exports have recorded a significant increase.