Spanish Agricultural Regions: A Comprehensive Analysis

Posted on Feb 19, 2025 in Geography

Spanish Agricultural Regions

1. Wet Spain

Wet Spain features a landscape of small farms and a scattered population (Bocage) primarily devoted to cattle farming. The cultivated area is relatively small. Polyculture was traditionally practiced in small gardens in areas of Galicia, along with vine cultivation. Less fertile areas were used for barley and rye. Today, the main focus is livestock, primarily for dairy production, utilizing the large meadows in this area. Wine production has also increased in Galicia.

2. Interior of the Peninsula

The interior of the peninsula is characterized by concentrated settlements across large fields. Property sizes vary, with smallholdings in the Duero and Ebro valleys and large estates dominating in Salamanca, Ciudad Real, León, and the drylands of Aragon and Extremadura. Land use is mixed, encompassing both agriculture and livestock farming.

Agriculture:

  • Dry Farming: Traditionally, cereals and legumes were cultivated. Now, barley is often preferred over wheat, and other crops like sunflowers are important. Olive groves and vineyards are also common.
  • Irrigation: Irrigated areas have expanded, sometimes leading to groundwater overuse. This area produces a diverse range of crops, supporting a significant canning industry in the Ebro Valley.

Livestock:

Sheep farming predominates, with recent expansion in bull and Iberian pig breeding. Industrial livestock systems are present in some areas, mainly in the Ebro Valley and the interior of Catalonia.

3. Mediterranean Spain

Mediterranean Spain exhibits a mixed settlement pattern, increasingly focused on larger working areas, except for the small and medium-sized farms in Andalusia. Rainfed areas are dedicated to cereals, grapes, olives, and almonds. However, the most productive areas are those engaged in horticulture. Although representing only 6% of cultivated land, they contribute almost a quarter of the final agricultural production.

Main Crops:

  1. Coastal Area: Specializes in fruits and vegetables. Oranges and mandarins predominate in Castellon and Valencia, vegetables and lemon trees in Alicante and Murcia, and vegetables and flowers (Maresme) in Catalonia. The Andalusian coast cultivates tropical fruits and greenhouse crops. Crops under plastic are located in Andalusia and the Levant.
Techniques:
  1. Sanded Soils: Greenhouses use artificial soil with three layers: clay, manure, and sand.
  2. Plastic Tunnels: Used for padded strawberry cultivation in Huelva.
  3. Black Plastic Cover: Ridges covered with black plastic are used for planting strawberries, watermelons, melons, etc.
  1. Inland: Less thermophilic fruits predominate, along with almond, hazelnut, vegetable, and horticultural crops. This area includes the south of Lerida, Bajo Cinca, and the lower Aragon region in Huesca and Teruel. Livestock production is industrial, particularly in the Murcia region for porcine and avian farming in Catalonia.

4. Canary Islands South Coast

Agriculture in the Canary Islands is declining due to tourism pressure. Two main areas can be identified:

  1. Coastal Zone: Dedicated to irrigation and monoculture for export.
  2. Upper Zones: Traditional rainfed agriculture, especially dedicated to vine and potato cultivation.