Global Water Forum: Experts Criticize Avocado Cultivation in Morocco as a Wasteful Mismanagement of Groundwater Resources
✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | May 20, 2024 — Amid the discussions at the World Water Forum held in Bali, Indonesia, experts are expressing significant concern over Morocco’s mismanagement of its water resources. Central to this controversy is the cultivation of avocados, a practice initiated through a partnership with the Zionist entity, which is seen as an egregious example of resource misallocation.
The heart of the issue lies in the avocado farming project that the Zionist entity has been running in Morocco since 2020. This endeavor has drawn ire as it epitomizes the kingdom’s failure to prioritize the water needs of its populace while simultaneously attempting to limit Algeria’s access to shared water resources. These resources are crucial for the inhabitants of southwestern Algeria, particularly in the regions of Béchar, Timimoun, and Adrar.
The Avocado Dilemma: A Water-Guzzling Crop
The controversy started with an agreement between the Zionist company Mehadrin and its Moroccan partner Ad Olam to produce 10,000 tons of avocados annually. The problem, however, lies in the water footprint of this crop. Producing one kilogram of avocados requires approximately 1,000 liters of water, a figure that can soar to 2,000 liters during drought years. Thus, the water required to sustain one hectare of avocado plants is equivalent to the water consumption of an entire city.
According to the United Nations, Morocco has now entered the ranks of water-poor countries, with a per capita share of just 600 cubic meters annually, far below the 1,000 cubic meters considered the minimum to avoid water scarcity. Projections indicate that this figure could drop to 500 cubic meters in the coming years, signaling a dire outlook where Morocco essentially exports its precious groundwater through the cultivation of water-intensive crops like avocados.
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