Rabat – Morocco’s avocado industry has been on a remarkable upward trajectory despite the looming domestic threat of water scarcity.
Over the past six years, Morocco’s avocado exports have surged more than fourfold, making Morocco the 9th largest avocado exporter in the world, according to a report from EastFruits.
The trend continues to gain momentum. In the last season, between July 2022 and May 2023, Morocco exported a staggering 45,000 tonnes of avocados, valued at $139 million.
With the rise of avocado production, producers were able to expand their market reach. Six years ago, Morocco was exporting to 19 countries, the number now has reached 25.
Spain, France, and the Netherlands are the leading destinations for Moroccan avocados, representing a significant portion of the country’s total avocado exports.
In 2017, Germany ranked 7th globally in terms of avocado imports, but by 2022, it had climbed to the 5th spot. Morocco’s share of total avocado imports in Germany surged to over 10% during the months of November and February.
Often dubbed the “green gold,” Avocado is the fastest-growing commodity in global horticultural exports. The modern world’s penchant for healthy foods has been a driving force behind the surging global demand for avocados.
It is widely anticipated that avocados will become the most exported fruit category by 2030. The trajectory is in line with the rapid global growth in avocado production, which is projected to reach a staggering 12 million tonnes by the same year.
While the avocado industry promises much for farmers and businesses in Morocco, concerns about the sustainability of cultivating avocado in a country grappling with water shortages have been mounting in recent years.
Calls to halt production of water-intensive crops
Water scarcity is emerging as a significant challenge to Morocco’s socio-economic development. The country is facing increasing pressure due to its growing population and extensive agricultural activities, which are placing significant stress on its already limited water resources. Recent data from the World Bank reveals that agriculture alone consumes a staggering 88% of the country’s water resources.
As concerns over water scarcity continue to mount, Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture took a pivotal step in September 2022 by discontinuing irrigation subsidies for the cultivation of water-intensive crops like avocados, watermelons, and citrus fruits.
Morocco is now on the World Bank’s list of nations with the lowest water resources per capita. In 2015, the country’s average water resources per capita stood at a mere 645 cubic meters annually, falling well short of the international “water poverty line” of 1000 cubic meters per capita.
The World Bank projects Morocco’s water resources to further deplete by 2050, with the figure plummeting to 500 cubic meters per capita, edging closer to the international benchmark of “extreme water scarcity.”
The decision to cease irrigation subsidies was prompted by a wave of online campaigns advocating for the halt of water-intensive crop cultivation. Moroccan environmental organizations, including Morocco Environment 2050, have been urging the government to halt the cultivation of watermelon and avocados.
Last year’s severe drought pushed Moroccan dams to a record-low filling rate, marking a five-year low. While Morocco has a history of grappling with droughts, recent years have witnessed an alarming increase in the frequency and severity of these dry spells due to acute climate change.
Meanwhile, the scarcity of water resources has forced various regions to adopt drastic measures to safeguard their water supplies. The measures include water rationing and prohibitions on the use of drinking water for irrigating public gardens, among other actions.
The situation prompted activists and ecologists to question why the country continues to permit the cultivation of water-intensive crops. Abdelghani Chehbouni, a professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), expressed his views in August 2022, stating: “I don’t believe growing watermelon in Zagora is a wise choice. As a society, we need not consume produce out of its regular season… I can go without avocados, but I cannot survive without water. It is not practical to persist with products that demand significant water resources and are not essential for the populace.”
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