Lack of profitability forces Spanish farmers to abandon crops, especially citrus.
According to the Council for Agriculture, in the province of Castellon (Spain), the area occupied by the cultivation of citrus fruits has decreased by 20% over the past 20 years. The cultivation of olives, almonds, cereals or vegetables has also declined.
The Secretary General of Unió de Llauradors i Ramaders, complained that the gardens are still abandoned due to the inability to profit from the crop. He emphasized that the key factor that could improve this situation is the payment of fair prices to producers.
The ups and downs in the distribution chain and unfair competition from countries such as South Africa are also two factors to consider.
In most cases, a collective portrait of a farmer who refuses to grow citruses is an elderly pensioner who does not have the opportunity to independently maintain farms. As a rule, they are inherited from a family with varieties that have low commercial value.
