Record 180,000 hectares left uncultivated in the Valencian Community

Spain’s AVA-ASAJA reports that the Valencian Community stopped cultivating 3,548 hectares in 2025, pushing the region’s abandoned agricultural land to a record 179,994 hectares. The decline represents a 2.01% year-on-year reduction in cultivated area, based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture’s ESYRCE survey.

While total uncultivated land in Spain fell slightly to 1.03 million hectares, the Valencian Community now accounts for 17.5% of all abandoned farmland nationwide, ranking first ahead of larger regions such as Castilla-La Mancha, Andalucía and Castilla y León.

Citrus was again the most affected crop. In 2025, 2,762 hectares of citrus orchards were abandoned, including 998 hectares of mandarins and 722 hectares of oranges. Irrigated citrus area fell from 140,507 to 137,745 hectares, down 1.96% from 2024 and around 15% lower than a decade ago. Other crops showing notable declines included almonds (-2.6%), stone fruit (-4%) and persimmons (-1%).

By contrast, some crops expanded. Vegetables and flowers grew by 1,704 hectares (+9.5%). Avocado continued to gain ground, rising 5.4% to 4,211 hectares, although kiwi cultivation fell for the first time, down 3% to 625 hectares.

AVA-ASAJA attributes the continued land abandonment to weak farm profitability and the impact of extreme weather, including flood damage linked to recent DANA events. Its president, Cristóbal Aguado, warned that the trend risks becoming irreversible if agricultural policy and trade conditions do not change. The organisation has called on farmers and consumers to support a sector-wide demonstration in Valencia on 29 January, demanding measures to restore farm viability and protect food security.

source and graphics: avaasaja.org