The implementation of the Green Morocco Plan, comprising various hydro-agricultural development programmes, including the Irrigation Extension Programme (PEI), and the National Irrigation Water Saving Programme (PNEEI), has entered its cruising phase, relying mainly on the local branches of the Regional Development Offices (e.g. ORMVA). This plan requires increased support to ensure the quality and efficiency of irrigation system construction and operation.

In this respect, the aspects of standardisation and control of the performance of irrigation equipment, as well as optimisation of the conditions under which they are used, are of vital importance. These aspects fall within the remit of the Direction de l’Irrigation et de l’Aménagement de l’Espace Agricole, and more specifically of its Service des Expérimentations, des Essais et de la Normalisation (SEEN).

This service was recently assessed as part of an FAO mission, with a view to upgrading it so that it can better carry out its tasks in support of the modernisation policy.
With the aim of removing various constraints limiting the SEEN’s ability to carry out the many tasks required to provide effective support for the PEI and PNEEI programmes, the Direction de l’Irrigation et de l’Aménagement de l’Espace Agricole is planning to modernise the laboratory facilities in order to move towards certification of the tests it carries out.

Thus, under the overall responsibility of the FAO Representation in Morocco, the supervision of the LTU/NRLW technical services and in close collaboration with the National Convention Directorate and the relevant officials of the DIAEA, the international consultation focused on the following tasks:

1. carrying out a diagnosis of the current state of operation and calibration of the existing test benches, equipment and measuring tools at the SEEN Hydraulics Laboratory;
2. Examine the test protocols currently used by the Hydraulics Laboratory;
3. list and propose all the types of hydraulic tests to be carried out by the laboratory to assess the technological and hydraulic performance and quality control of the various irrigation equipment;
4. Identify the requirements for upgrading the laboratory in terms of :

• additional equipment for modernising and automating tests ;
• processing methods and tools
• training of staff and teams responsible for carrying out and supervising tests;
• drawing up technical and technological specifications for the equipment to be acquired.