Conversion of the irrigation system of sector Est-1 of Gharb

irrigated perimeter from gravity to overhead/sprinkling irrigation Technical and Economic Study
Morocco is a country characterized by water resource scarcity. Its main water source
is rainfall that may varies from a year to another. The economy of Morocco is in a
large percentage based on agriculture, where it employs up to 40% of the working
population. Back in 80s, a political decision has been taken to reduce the impact of
variations in rainfall from one year to another on the national economy. This
decision has been accompanied by the erection of at least one large dam and
several small ones per year in addition to targeting the development of an area of
one million of hectares of irrigated perimeters by the horizon of year 2000.
Accompanying this objective, the authorities progressively introduced water
efficient irrigation techniques to reduce around 400 Mm of irrigation water per year.
Based on the above, the main idea and goal of the final year project was to assess
the water economy of an irrigated sector designed to be served by a gravity
irrigation network and redesign it using the overhead/sprinkling technique. Then, a
water/energy consumption assessment have been conduct and the project
concluded with an economical comparison including initial investments and
function/maintenance costs.
The irrigation sector Est-1 (2400 ha) have been chosen as a prototype area because
at that time the gravity irrigation system was under design by a large local
Consultant and communications were therefore easier with the Project Manager and
the project team with regards to available data and mentoring.

Gravity driven irrigation network

The project began with collecting data related to temperatures during dry seasons
when
the
irrigation
system
is
used
at
its
full
capacity
and
evaporation/evapotranspiration formulas developed for the project area. These data
were used to assess the performance of the designed gravity irrigation network by
estimating losses due to the:

Evaporation: the conveyance channels are always full to service the parcels
during the irrigation season, when the temperatures rise above 40 deg.
Celsius,
Infiltration losses: primary and secondary irrigation channels are reinforced
concrete made. But, tertiary and to parcel irrigation are earth channels. This
leads to a loss of a part of parcel irrigation water by infiltration,
Over use of the parcels owners: in the area of the Gharb, people thinks that
over irrigating crops may lead to high crop yields and thus use a more than
necessary volumes of water.

Based on available documentation at the time of the final year project, a financial
estimation of the irrigation project using gravity driven networks was conducted,
where:

The initial investment was appraised,

The functioning cost including maintenance over 25 years was evaluated.

Overhead/Sprinkling irrigation network

Prior to the design of the overhead /sprinkling irrigation network, a