Agadir – Moroccan Journalist Abdessamad Dniden, representing Bayane Al Yaoum, was awarded the second prize in the print media category of the 10th edition of the National Grand Prize for Agricultural and Rural Press, held last Friday in Meknes on the sidelines of the 18th International Agriculture Show in Morocco (SIAM).
The distinction recognizes a field report examining the structural transformation of Morocco’s agricultural model in the context of mounting water stress.
The National Grand Prize for Agricultural and Rural Press, launched in 2014, rewards journalistic work focused on agricultural and rural development. The 2026 edition received 75 entries across print, digital, television, and radio categories.
During the award ceremony, organizers stressed the importance of specialized journalism in documenting agricultural transformation, particularly as Morocco faces growing challenges linked to climate change, water management, and food security.
In his work, Dniden tracks two major drivers reshaping the sector, which are the increasing reliance on seawater desalination and the gradual integration of artificial intelligence in water management and agricultural production systems
The report was conducted in the Souss-Massa region, particularly in the Chtouka plain, documenting a shift in irrigation systems, moving from a long-standing dependence on groundwater toward desalinated water as a strategic alternative.
The findings of the report showed that desalination has made it possible to irrigate thousands of hectares, sustaining agricultural activity in one of Morocco’s most important export-oriented production basins.
At the same time, it introduces a new cost structure in which water pricing becomes a determining factor, especially for small and medium-sized agricultural holdings.
The report also addressed the growing adoption of smart agricultural technologies, including data-driven irrigation systems and precision farming tools.
These innovations illustrate an emerging shift toward more technologically guided agriculture, where decision-making is increasingly informed by soil analysis, climate data, and digital monitoring systems rather than traditional field observation alone.
Beyond Souss-Massa, the report places these changes within a national context shaped by persistent water scarcity. It shows how water stress now constrains agricultural production across multiple regions and forces stakeholders to rethink long-term production models.