‘Lose-lose situation’: irrigators and environmental groups criticise plan for 2,500ha almond farm

Almond plantations have expanded below the Barmah choke on the Murray River but irrigators warn water supplies will be limited in the next drought. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Irrigators and environmental groups have raised concerns about a proposal for a massive almond farm in South Australia which could draw up to 30 gigalitres of water from the Murray-Darling Basin each year.

It comes as the UN’s weather agency declared the world is in an El Niño, bringing soaring temperatures and a higher likelihood of drought.