Social Norms Governing Irrigation Management and Agricultural Land-Use Patterns in the Taza Region, Morocco.

Abstract

The Taza region is facing increasing water challenges driven by climate change and rising demand across multiple sectors, making the study of social norms governing irrigation particularly important. This paper examines the social mechanisms that regulate irrigation management amid these ongoing transformations. The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach and used structured questionnaires administered to farmers engaged in irrigated agriculture.

Key findings include the presence of a coherent system of local irrigation norms an element of intangible cultural heritage that merits preservation. The research also documents dynamic shifts in irrigation practices, including the adoption of new irrigation techniques and an increase in private ownership and control of water resources as farmers increasingly drill wells and boreholes. Additionally, the study identifies distinctive land- and water-use patterns in the study area and discusses their implications for sustainable water management.