Spanish Agricultural Landscape: Factors, Structure, and Evolution
Rural Areas and Agricultural Activities in Spain
Rural areas are territories characterized by primary sector activities:
- Agricultural
- Livestock
- Forestry
Today, they also host activities such as:
- Recreational
- Industrial
- Services
Physical and Human Factors of Rural Areas
The Natural Environment
Traditionally, agricultural activity had a strong dependence on physical factors. Today, this dependence is less due to advancements like irrigation, genetic engineering, and soil improvement.
The Relief
Characterized by a high average altitude (70% of the land is between 200 and 1,000 m) and numerous slopes, which hinders erosion control and mechanization. (Out of 50 million hectares, only 6 million have slopes averaging less than 5%).
Climate
Much of the territory experiences low and erratic rainfall, with frequent storms and hail. It also features extreme temperatures:
- Such as frost or intense radiation
- And more or less pronounced aridity
Soils
Soils are generally of poor quality.
Agrarian Structure
Traditional Agrarian Structure
- Numerous labor force
- Small and large properties
- Extensive farms
- Low technological development
- Low production for own consumption and market
Current Agrarian Structure
- Sparse population and aging
- Intensive farming
- Increase in herd size and performance
- Technological advances
- Regional specialization
- Focus on foreign markets
Demographic Factors
The agricultural workforce has declined significantly:
- 1900: 63.3%
- 2001: 6.1% (e.g., Madrid, Basque Provinces ~1%; Andalusia, Extremadura, Galicia >14%)
Causes: Rural exodus.
Consequences: Depopulation and aging.
Trends: Decreases in rural population, with some rejuvenation.
Changes in Operating Systems, Ownership, and Land Tenure
Operation: The number of farms has decreased, but their average size has increased (23.9 ha).
Property: There is a scarcity of medium-sized properties.
The large estate (over 100 ha) is predominant in Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon, and Salamanca. Traditionally, these involved absentee ownership, extensive cultivation, low yields, and large numbers of workers facing severe seasonal unemployment and illiteracy. Some have now transformed into capitalist enterprises.
- 50% of land is owned by 1% of owners.
Today, these are mostly highly mechanized, intensive farming business properties.
Medium-sized properties are underrepresented, only predominant in parts of Catalonia, Navarra, and Castilla y León.
The small property or small farm (less than 10 ha) is predominant in northern Spain (Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia) and the Mediterranean coastal provinces. This size often hinders competitive agriculture and tends to disappear, though it is still favored by the importance of part-time farming, especially during economic crises.
- Conversely, 52% of owners hold only 10.5% of the land.
- Small properties are mostly found in areas of intensive use with a certain return.
Among land tenure systems are:
- The direct holdings (73.9%).
- The indirect ownership, including:
- Leasing
- The marked decline in sharecropping