Popular avocado cultivation is starting to take its toll in southern Portugal

Published 2020년 10월 15일

Tridge summary

The Algarve region in southern Portugal has seen a surge in avocado cultivation, now covering approximately 1,600 hectares, which is nearly double the 2018 figures. This growth in avocado farming is causing significant strain on the region's already scarce water resources, as it requires four times more water than traditional crops. The Portuguese Drought Monitoring Committee has conveyed that the water reserves in Algarve might run dry by the end of the year. Despite concerns from environmental groups and warnings of potential environmental damage, the allure of avocado farming, due to its higher profitability, continues to attract growers. The water usage disparity is largely due to the lower pest pressure in avocado crops, allowing for less water use per kilo of produce. The lucrative nature of avocado farming, with prices being more than four times higher than oranges, despite higher production costs, has led to concerns about the sustainability of this farming boom in a water-scarce area.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The boom in avocado cultivation in the southern Portuguese Algarve region, where this fruit is grown on about 1,600 hectares, almost double the acreage in 2018, has a significant impact on water resources in an area where water is a scarce resource. Avocado cultivation uses four times more water than traditional crops in the region, such as oranges. It is estimated that 200 acres of avocado trees can consume between 3.5 and 4.1 million liters of water per day, depending on the season. The Portuguese Drought Monitoring Committee recently reported that the water basins in the Algarve currently only have enough water to last until the end of the year. "We are headed straight for disaster, let this be clear," said Monica Viana, president of the anti-monoculture environmental group Regenerarte. "Climate change is a fact. It is a theme all over the world, and here in the Algarve, we cannot escape it," said Viana, who argues that growers should opt for traditional crops from the area ...

Source: AGF