Southeast Morocco is facing a water crisis. The date palm oases that mark the Draa Valley in the Province of Zagora are brittle and dry after several years of below average rainfall and reduced dam releases. Under these conditions, farmers’ ability to produce household cereals, vegetables, and dates is drastically reduced. At the same time, the production of watermelon for export continues to increase since their introduction to the region in 2007 precipitated by the country’s agriculture modernization. This paper examines southeastern Morocco’s transition to watermelon production through the testimonies of residents farming the Feija Plain in Zagora. These accounts of “living on luck” are contextualized by an analysis of the marketing strategies of seed companies and the country’s agriculture strategy to understand the larger processes that put hybrid watermelon seeds in farmers’ hands. The efforts of local authorities to restrict watermelon growing and rationalize water usage are undermined by the country’s rural development approach which has led to the settlement of collective rangeland and distribution of subsidized irrigation equipment for watermelon production. Truly addressing water scarcity in the region requires reevaluating the country’s agriculture strategy and engagement with marginalized communities in the rural periphery.