Morocco concerns over avocado cultivation’s impact on water resources

The cultivation of avocados in Morocco has sparked widespread concern and gained the attention of the nation’s Parliament, where representatives from various political parties are urging the Minister of Agriculture, Mohamed Al-Seddiqi, to take immediate measures to address the depletion of water resources caused by certain export-oriented crops, reported Al-Rai Daily.

Parliamentarian Fatima Al-Tamani, a member of the Left Federal Party, penned a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, expressing the urgency of the situation. “In the midst of a looming water crisis in Morocco, numerous citizens are being forced to leave their villages and homes in search of sustenance,” Al-Tamani wrote. Reports have revealed that Morocco exported a staggering 45,000 tons of avocados to European nations.

Al-Tamani highlighted the water-intensive nature of avocado farming, stating, “Scientific reports unequivocally indicate that avocados are among the most water-draining fruits and vegetables. Shockingly, every kilogram of these fruits consumes over a thousand liters of water. It is alarming to consider that the export of forty-five thousand tons of avocados effectively depleted more than forty billion liters of water—a precious resource that could have catered to the essential needs of Moroccans.”

The concerns come in the wake of Morocco’s struggle with the aftermath of one of the most severe droughts the country has faced in decades. Last year, the nation experienced a significant drop in rainfall, followed by an unprecedented decline in the filling rates of dams, which presently hover at a mere 27 percent.