Irrigation and the Development of Sugar Production

The article examines the role of large-scale irrigation in Morocco’s agricultural modernization and in the expansion of sugar beet and sugar cane production. It reviews the country’s hydraulic potential, the history of hydro-agricultural development, and the public investments that made irrigated agriculture possible after independence. The author also discusses the technical, social, and organizational constraints of irrigation schemes, including land consolidation, farmer participation, and infrastructure management. Within this framework, sugar crops are presented as a strategic example of how irrigation can transform production, reduce imports, and move the country toward greater self-sufficiency.