Valencian Agriculture: Cultivation, Landscapes, and Key Features
General Features of Valencian Agriculture: Agriculture is a key element of the Valencian territory. Although it has declined in recent years due to industry and tourism, Valencian agriculture remains renowned worldwide for its richness and productivity. The sector’s contribution to the Valencian economy is higher than official figures suggest, considering sales, transport, and industrial processing. Moreover, agriculture holds social importance, as many owners are part-time farmers. Thus, Valencian agriculture is both an economic and social activity. Compared to the rest of Spain, it is highly specialized, focusing on tree crops. Soil, climate, and human action influence agriculture, with pesticide and fertilizer use posing a threat to aquifers. Valencia is also known for its numerous record crops, unlike the homogenous cereal agriculture of the interior.
Major Types of Urban Landscapes: Valencian crops can be classified into three main landscape types:
1. Irrigated Intensive Coastal Plains: Lowlands (under 200 meters) with average annual temperatures of 16-17°C and low frost risk. Ideal for citrus, vegetables, and rice.
2. Dryland Intermediate Shaft: Lands between 200 and 600 meters altitude. Average annual temperatures range from 14-16°C, with colder winters and higher frost risk. Carob, olive, almond, and fruit trees are common.
3. Vineyards and Cereals: Found between 600 and 900 meters altitude. The climate is harsher, limiting crop options. The Requena Plateau and Serrania del Turia are characteristic areas. Wheat and corn are cultivated due to the frost period, which can reach -9°C.
Cultivation Steps According to Altitude
– Lower Coastal Plains (Castellón, Valencia, Orihuela, La Ribera, under 200 meters): Irrigated crops, especially citrus, vegetables (tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, lettuce), and persimmon. Temperatures should not fall below -2°C.
– Piedmont (200-500 meters): Lands between the coast and inland (Maestrazgo, Palancia valleys, Albaida, Alcoy, Vinalopó). Alternation of carob, olive, almond, and fruit trees. Frosts are more frequent and can exceed -2°C.
– Western Territories (Morella, Ademuz, 500-900 meters): All kinds of fruit, wheat, and corn. Frost periods can reach -9°C.
– High Elevation Moors and Molars (Morella, Barracas, Alpuente, up to 1100 meters): Pasture, cereals, and vineyards. This is the absolute limit for crops, with low winter temperatures and high summer temperatures. Natural pastures for sheep are found here. Above 1100 meters, only pine, fir, and beech forests are found up to 1200 meters. No vegetation is found above 1800 meters.
Agricultural Landscapes Map (p. 190)
The map on page 190 shows four main agricultural landscape groups in the Valencia region:
1. Coastal Areas: Intensive irrigation with citrus, vegetables, and rice, favored by the mild climate and sea’s thermal effects. Flat areas like Castellón, the central plain of Valencia, and Alicante South.
2. Territory between 200 and 600 meters: Wooded farming with carob, olive, almond trees, vineyards, orchards, and small vegetable gardens. Found in the interior corridors of Maestrat, Palancia, Turia foothills, and the valleys of Ayora, Albaida, or Alcoi.
3. 600-900 meters: Olive and almond farming due to the harsher weather. Located in the mountainous landscape and Turia-Requena Plateau.
4. Above 900 meters: Pasture and livestock are dominant. Grasslands are found in the deserts of Barraca or Alpuente, with some cereal or potato cultivation.
Key Features of the Valencian Garden
a) Smallholdings: Field sizes are small, potentially compromising profitability.
b) Crop Rotation: Crop changes occur based on soil characteristics, often with the addition of beach sand.
c) High Annual Productivity: Fertile soils allow up to three crops per year, sometimes leading to overexploitation.
d) Labor-Intensive Crops: Although this is decreasing with the rise of crops like oranges.
e) Threat of Urban Sprawl: Urban expansion in Valencia and Castellón since the 1960s poses a threat, although social pressure against garden development is growing.
Paddy Field
Valencian rice is among the best in Europe, although production has declined. The Aterraments Els involved covering parts of Lake Albufera with sand baskets to create rice fields. The entire perimeter of the park (p. 204) has been slowly filled with sand for cultivation over two centuries, despite the lagoon’s previous unsanitary conditions.
Orange Cultivation
Citrus expansion began in the second half of the 20th century, driven by lower dedication requirements compared to other crops. Initial areas included Ribera Alta, with significant growth due to improved communications like the railroad expansion. Marketing is crucial, with domestic markets and ports playing key roles. Important orange farming areas include Vinaroz under Senia, Peñiscola, Castellón, Burriana, Sagunto, Valencia Huerta, Low Palancia, Barranco Carraixet under Turia, Turia Counties, Júcar Valley, and the Júcar river mouth area.
Wine Cooperatives in Valencia Province
Valencian wine is characterized by strong farmer associations and a focus on marketing and export. Almost 95% of Valencian wine growers are grouped into cooperatives, mainly in Requena-Utiel and Vinalopo. The cooperative movement began early in the 20th century to unify and sell collectively. Cooperatives grew in importance throughout the 1950s, with second-degree cooperatives created for marketing purposes. A significant challenge is that management is often carried out by farmers who may lack knowledge of current market conditions.