Why did Portugal ban the cultivation of olives and avocados?

Published May 26, 2023

Tridge summary

The Portuguese government has imposed a temporary ban on the cultivation of olives, avocados, and red berries in the drought-stricken provinces of Alentejo and Algarve due to the severe water usage required. This measure, aimed at mitigating the impact of the ongoing extreme drought, will be maintained until the drought subsides. The government intends to promote the cultivation of less water-consuming crops, while maintaining that intensive crops are essential for income generation. The drought has impacted approximately 90% of mainland Portugal, with grain and livestock production being particularly affected, leading to concerns about necessary herd slaughter due to the drought's effects.

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Original content

The Portuguese government has issued an order to temporarily ban the cultivation of olives, avocados and red berries in the Alentejo and Algarve provinces, which have been hardest hit by the extreme drought. This writes "European Truth" with reference to the Portuguese TV channel SAPO. As Portuguese Minister of Agriculture Maria do Seu Antunes announced, the ban will remain in place as long as the current cycle of severe drought continues in the provinces, as the cultivation of olives and avocados requires a lot of water. Instead, they will encourage the cultivation of crops that consume less water. Antunes stressed that the Portuguese government does not consider intensive crops to be "evil" as they are an important source of income. See also: Climate change: by 2100, most of the earth's surface will become arid As of mid-May, according to the Portuguese meteorological agency IPMA, about 90% of mainland Portugal was affected by the drought, with severe drought affecting one fifth ...

Source: Eastfruit