Characteristics and Challenges of Agricultural Activity

Posted on Nov 9, 2024 in Geography

Characteristics of Agricultural Activity

Occupied Population: Poor

Production Techniques: Modernity in Western Europe; Eastern regions use more traditional techniques.

Herd Size: Corporate, family-owned, uncompetitive with countries in the East.

Production: Abundant, specialized, and market-oriented.

Agrarian Countries

Oceanic Agricultural Landscape: Pastures and forage crops, cereals, milk, and meat.

Mediterranean Agricultural Landscape: Varied; dryland (cereals, grapes, olives) and irrigation (intensive agriculture, orchards, and gardens).

Continental Agricultural Landscape:

  • Cold Areas: Forestry, livestock, and meat.
  • Central Area: Meat, grain cultivation, and fodder.
  • Steppe Areas: Monoculture of cereals and industrial crops.
  • Tundra Polar: Livestock.
  • Mountain Areas: Livestock and extensive forest exploitation.

Factors Influencing Agricultural Landscapes

  • Physical Factors: Few favorable conditions.
  • Reliefs: High altitude and steep slopes.
  • Climate: Little precipitation and extreme temperatures.
  • Soil:
    • Poor quality.
    • Low population density.
    • Use of agricultural technology, fertilizers, and seeds.

Elements of Spanish Agricultural Landscapes

  • Plots: Decreased in number but increasing in size.
  • Land Uses:
    • Agricultural (cereals, grapes, olives, industrial crops).
    • Livestock: Cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry.
  • Rural Settlement:
    • Scattered in outlying islands and mainland.
    • Concentrated in the interior.
    • Large in the south.
    • Smaller in the north.
  • Rural Habitat:
    • Various types based on materials.
    • Different levels of development.

Oceanic Agricultural Landscape

Located in the north and northwest of the peninsula; numerous small and enclosed plots.

  • Land Uses: Livestock farming and forest areas.
  • Agriculture: Bottom of valleys, orchard crops, and forage.
  • Herds:
    • Mountain beef cattle.
    • Coastal areas: Dairy cattle.
  • Settlement: Scattered.

Agricultural Landscape of the Interior of the Peninsula

Located on the plateau and Ebro depression.

  • Plots:
    • Minifundia in the Douro Valley and the Ebro.
    • Large estates in Castilla La Mancha, Aragon, and Extremadura.
  • Land Uses:
    • Agriculture: Dryland crops, cereals, grapes, olives; intensive cultivation of plants, tobacco, and sugar beet.
    • Livestock: Extensive cereals, sheep, swine, and bovine.
  • Habitation: Concentrated in small towns in the Douro Valley and major towns in the southern half.

Mediterranean Agricultural Landscape

Located in the Mediterranean coastline and Balearic Guadalquivir Valley.

  • Plots: Small irrigated areas, large in rainfed areas.
  • Land Uses:
    • Agriculture: Rainfed grain, vine, and olive; irrigated: fruits, vegetables, and tropical fruits.
    • Livestock: Cattle, sheep, and pigs; caprine livestock in Catalonia.
  • Settlement: Scattered.

Canary Agricultural Landscape

Located in the Canary Islands.

  • Plots: Small and large holdings.
  • Land Uses:
    • Agriculture: Monoculture (banana, tomato cultivation under plastic), tropical fruits, and polyculture.
    • Breeding: Extensive sheep and goats; intensive pig and poultry farming.
  • Rural Settlement: Scattered.

Transformations of the Countryside

  • Rural areas are currently diversifying their agricultural activities.
  • Secondary residences and rural tourism are emerging.
  • Major consequences include income generation and over-exploitation.

Problems of Agricultural Activity

  • Depopulation of rural areas.
  • Intensive production (cereals, wine, milk).
  • Environmental degradation due to lack of care.
  • Negative agricultural practices affecting health and food quality.

The Agricultural Policy of the European Union (CAP)

Objectives:

  • Fair prices for farmers and consumers.
  • Achieve competitive agriculture.
  • Sustainable agriculture:
    • Increased rural development funding.
    • Promotion of organic farming.
    • Conditioning of financial aid.

Agriculture and Its Types

Andalusian Agriculture:

  • Countryside Farming: Coincides with the valley of medium and large Guadalquivir; predominates rainfed agriculture with main crops being cereals and industrial crops.
  • Mediterranean Agriculture: Develops along the coast with irrigated agriculture, intensive and high productivity based on small cultivated areas like strawberries, oranges, and potatoes.
  • Mountain Agriculture: Practiced in Sierra Morena and Betic ridges; dominant activities include logging and livestock; main crops are cereals and olives.

Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry Development

  • Livestock: Cattle and sheep in Sierra Morena; pigs and goats in Huelva.
  • Forest Resources: Scarce in Andalusia; notable species include oak, cork oak, and pine; main products are harvested wood, cork, and resin.