Specifying the differentiated contribution of farmers to groundwater depletion in two irrigated areas in North Africa

Ameur, Fatah; Amichi, Hichem; Kuper, Marcel; Hammani, Ali

Specifying the differentiated contribution of farmers to groundwater depletion in two irrigated areas in North Africa | Caractérisation de la contribution différentiée des agriculteurs à l’épuisement des eaux souterraines dans deux zones irriguées en Afrique du Nord Especificación de la contribución diferenciada de los agricultores en el agotamiento del agua subterránea en dos zonas de riego en el norte de África 具体说明北非两个灌溉区农民对地下水消耗的分化型分布 Especificando a contribuição diferenciada de agricultores para a depleção das águas subterrâneas em duas áreas irrigadas no Norte da África

2017

Ameur, Fatah | Amichi, Hichem | Kuper, Marcel | Hammani, Ali

Much attention has been paid to the issue of groundwater depletion linked to intensive groundwater-based agriculture in (semi-)arid areas. Often referred to as the “overexploitation” of aquifers, groundwater depletion is generally attributed to the entire agricultural sector without distinguishing between different uses and users. Although it expresses a general concern for future users, the ambiguous term of “overexploitation” does not acknowledge the contested nature of groundwater use and emerging inequalities. Also, the impact of inequality on groundwater depletion is rarely questioned. The aim of this article is to investigate how and by whom groundwater is depleted, and in turn, how unequal access to groundwater fuels the socioeconomic differentiation of farms and groundwater depletion. Based on a detailed analysis of groundwater use from a user perspective in two irrigated areas in North Africa (Morocco and Algeria), this study shows how the context of groundwater depletion exacerbates—and is exacerbated by—existing inequalities. The paper concludes that knowing how much is withdrawn, where, and by whom provides helpful information for more informed groundwater management by a better understanding of the response of users to declining groundwater conditions and the interests and incentives of different social categories of famers to contribute to groundwater management.

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