An environmental report highlighted that the introduction of the avocado, a fruit native to tropical countries, in Morocco raises questions and worries researchers and citizens, especially in a context of increasing water stress.
This report, produced by the newspaper Reporterindicates that Morocco, which is now among the 10 largest exporters in the world, produced 98,000 tonnes of avocados in 2022 and exported 56,000 tonnes, mainly to Europe, according to the Food Organization of the United Nations and agriculture (FAO).
The report also cites data from the Foreign Exchange Office, revealing that avocado exports generated more than 163 million euros in 2023. Most of the land (95%) devoted to this crop is in the region Gharb, along the Atlantic Ocean. The plantations stretch as far as the eye can see, some even surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire fences.
Intensive and opaque irrigation
The report collected testimony from an agricultural advisor specializing in avocado cultivation. He revealed the methods used on a farm located in Sidi Allal Bahraoui, where each plant is irrigated using three different systems: drip, spray and sprinklers. One hectare of this farm has three wells, each with a depth of 27 meters.
However, the report highlights the absence of clear data on the water needs of avocado cultivation in Morocco, as well as on its actual consumption. This lack of transparency prevents defenders of this culture from providing verifiable figures.
According to community activists interviewed, the production of one kilogram of avocados requires 800 liters of water, or approximately 6.5 million liters per hectare.
The ineffectiveness of drip irrigation
The report highlights that drip irrigation, touted for its effectiveness, can produce the opposite results. Many growers prefer continuous spray systems, especially in the Gharb region, where water is taken directly from already struggling groundwater tables.
According to data published by the Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency, water tables in the Gharb region suffer from a significant deficit, mainly due to agricultural activities.
Disguised water export
An agricultural expert believes that avocado cultivation illustrates a policy followed for decades in Morocco: “Water is pumped within the national territory, then the fruits are exported abroad, which amounts to exporting water. »
This imbalance between water supply and demand is exacerbated by climate change and drought, but also by questionable political choices. The expert criticizes a logic of maximizing the “economic productivity of water”, which aimed to optimize yields per cubic meter of water used. However, after two decades, this approach is showing its limits, threatening the water security of local communities.
Tiflet: an alarming example
In the town of Tiflet, located 60 km from Rabat, residents experienced water cuts during the summer for the second year in a row. For several weeks, water was only accessible 12 hours a day. Some residents with private wells had to share them with their neighbors.
A resident explains that the grain fields and vineyards around the town have been replaced in recent years by avocado plantations. He adds: “Drought is often singled out, but we have the right to ask questions about other causes! »
Why persist?
Faced with this situation, the report questions the continuation of this agricultural policy. According to an economist, this comes down to financial interests: “The government either has direct interests or is under the influence of lobbies. »
Avocado cultivation, although economically lucrative, poses serious environmental and social challenges, highlighting the urgency of rethinking agricultural policies in the face of water scarcity.
