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Rabat – Morocco continues to export a significant number of avocado products despite appeals and pledges to rationalize water use amid drought, according to new data compiled and reported by the Agriculture-focused website FreshPlaza.
In a report published earlier today, the website revealed that Morocco exported 30,000 tonnes of avocados for the 2023-2024 season as of January 7.
“We reached a peak in production and demand during the second week of January, and we estimate that today, two months from the end of the campaign, exports have reached 42,45 thousand tonnes, or 70% of the 60 thousand tons target we set ourselves,” Freshplaza quoted the president of the Moroccan Avocado Association Abdellah Elyamlahi as saying.
According to Elyamlahi, reaching this figure “represents a new record for export volumes” while reflecting the performance of the avocado sector in Morocco.
The favorite markets for Morocco’s avocado goods are the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and France, reported FreshPlaza.
The new, alarming data from the website comes amid concerns and promises from the government, which is trying to rationalize the use of water in the midst of a drought.
Earlier this month, Moroccan extended water rationing campaigns to car washing services and public hammams.
As part of the new measures, authorities called for car washes and public hammams to stop operating three days a week.
The government also adopted other measures, including restrictions on the expansion of water-intensive crops such as citrus fruits, avocados, and watermelons.
Faced with a severe water crisis, the government has pledged that Morocco will take steps to favor more drought-resistant products, including pistachios, carob trees, almonds, argan trees, and olives, among others.
The expansion in the production of water-thirsty crops is reflected in the significant number of exports of goods – including avocado.
According to FreshPlaza, Elyamlahi acknowledged that the country is facing challenges linked to drought and water crisis.
The president of the Moroccan Avocado Association also recalled the measures implemented by the government to tackle these challenges, including halting subsidies for irrigation facilities for avocado trees and other crops.
“But I don’t think the restrictions will go beyond this measure. The drought is indeed hitting the south of the country hard, but in the north, where most of the production is located, we enjoy good rainfall and huge underground water reserves,” Elyamlahi said.
In recent weeks, Morocco has grappled with a continuous decline in water levels, recording a mere 23% filling rate at the end of last week across all national dams. This sharp decline comes in the midst of a continuing lack of rainfall and several consecutive years of drought.
