Spanish Agrarian Structure: Transformations & Rural Population
Agrarian Structure in Spain
Agrarian Structure – Past and Present:
- Traditional Structure: Characterized by labor-intensive farms, extensive and backward technology, low yields, and production for local consumption protected by internal market tariffs.
- Current Structure: Characterized by a small and aging population, increasing farm sizes, greater intensification, and technological advancements. This has led to higher yields, regional specialization, and sales in a globalized market.
Rural Population Transformations
Demographic Changes:
- Aging and Scarcity: The population engaged in agriculture is scarce and old, with significant territorial differences. Regions like Madrid and the Basque Country have around 1% of their population in agriculture, while Extremadura, Murcia, and Galicia have over 8%. Rural aging is more pronounced inland.
- Rural Exodus: The main cause of this situation was the rural exodus between 1969 and 1975, driven by mechanization and the attraction of urban areas. This led to depopulation in backward rural areas.
- Post-1975 Trends: The economic crisis slowed the rural exodus, and part-time agricultural activity increased. Since the 1990s, there has been a continuation of demographic decline and aging in disadvantaged rural areas due to negative natural growth, emigration, and retirement. However, some dynamic rural areas have seen recovery and rejuvenation due to the settlement of immigrants for agricultural work.
Farms and Recent Changes
Land Division and Farm Structure:
- Land Plots: These are areas with defined limits belonging to an owner.
- Farms: These are all plots worked by a single producer, regardless of ownership or location.
Transformations in Farm Size and Tenure
Physical Size:
- Historical Context: The Spanish agricultural sector was characterized by a predominance of smallholdings and a shortage of medium-sized farms.
- Small Farms: Less than 10 hectares, representing 67.8% of the total but only 10.4% of the utilized agricultural area. These are common in the north and the Valencian Community. Some are traditional part-time farms with low incomes, while others are modern, profitable horticultural or fruit farms.
- Large Farms: More than 100 hectares, representing 4.6% of the total but accounting for 56.8% of the utilized agricultural area. These are common in western Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, parts of Castilla y León, and Aragon. Traditional large estates often had low investment and yields, but many have transformed into capitalist enterprises with high productivity.