Morocco's Avocado Boom Sparks Water Usage Debate

Morocco's avocado exports surge to record highs, but with it comes mounting criticism over the fruit's intensive water consumption amidst prolonged drought conditions.

Abdellah Elyamlahi, head of the Moroccan Avocado Association, staunchly defends the booming avocado industry against a growing backlash. "Perceptions of avocado as a water-intensive crop are unfounded and lack scientific support," he asserts, as Morocco solidifies its position as a leading exporter, shipping over 40,000 tons of "green gold" to Europe last year. The country aims to triple production to 100,000 tons annually by 2027.

However, these ambitious expansion plans face mounting scrutiny as Morocco grapples with severe water scarcity. It's estimated that each avocado requires around 70 liters of water to grow - over 12 times the amount needed for a tomato.

Despite these figures, Elyamlahi insists that water usage is both reasonable and manageable. He points to research that debunks the notion of avocados as water guzzlers, suggesting that their water requirements are comparable to those of apples and pears, and significantly less than those of coffee crops, which often escape criticism. Elyamlahi attributes this efficient water management to drip irrigation systems implemented under Morocco's Green Plan, allowing for precise control over water application tailored to the needs of the crop.

However, widespread adoption of these technologies has been hindered by high initial investment costs, limiting their implementation primarily to larger operations. According to an agronomist from irrigation company Netafim, continuous drip irrigation can effectively double avocado yields even in regions experiencing eleven months of drought.

Elyamlahi further contends that avocado production is concentrated in the well-watered northern regions around Larache and Kenitra, which benefit from more abundant groundwater and rainfall, thus avoiding the water scarcity plaguing the southern regions.