Sources say there is a new project under evaluation for planting 722 hectares with avocados (one of the fruits that consume the most water) in the borough of Alcácer do Sal, which is one of the areas most affected by low rainfall in recent decades. The area of avocados in southern Portugal has doubled in the last decade. It is seven times greater than it was 30 years ago – yet the Algarve and Alentejo districts are struggling with a lack of sufficient rainfall.
“The critical state of the body of water in the Tejo-Sado basin led the Permanent Drought Commission to suspend all new borehole licences last summer”, Expresso continues. “However, the Projeto Agroflorestal das Herdades de Murta e Monte Novo involves opening 34 boreholes to irrigate 722.24 hectares of avocados.
Expresso stresses that neither APA nor the Ministry of Environment have made comments on this project under evaluation. Its approval will require a positive environmental impact study by the CCDR, the regional commission for coordination and development of the Alentejo.
Source: portugalresident.com