Moroccan Farmers Protest Lack of Resistant Seeds for Watermelon Crop

Farmers in the Zakoura region of Morocco have expressed frustration over the lack of resistant seeds for watermelon crops, particularly the red variety. The farmers, who are smallholders, have highlighted the absence of seeds that are resistant to the 'boussal' disease, which is caused by the 'man' insect and spreads during the spring growing season.

This protest comes in the wake of a regulatory decision, number 20, issued on October 14, 2026. This decision aims to regulate the cultivation of red and yellow watermelons in the Zakoura region. The farmers are questioning which entity will provide them with the necessary resistant seeds to produce red watermelon crops.

Youssef Afeddas, a representative of the small farmers within the Democratic Organization of Small Farmers in Zakoura, emphasized the need for dialogue and communication with farmers and stakeholders to implement the regulatory decision effectively. He also highlighted that the decision includes a ban on cultivating 'dalah' within 5 kilometers of the oasis, a measure he believes unfairly affects many farmers.

Several professional bodies involved in watermelon cultivation in Zakoura have sent a message to King Mohammed VI, expressing their rejection of the regulatory decision. They argue that the conditions imposed, particularly those related to areas outside the oasis, may prevent many farmers from continuing their agricultural activities. These bodies acknowledge the need to conserve water resources but insist that water protection should not lead to the exclusion of certain farmers or deprive them of their right to development.