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Spain, agricultural sector suffers setback
Spain
Friday 22 February 2008
According to a report by the Economic and Social Council(ESC), the Spanish agricultural sector has experienced in recent years a “major setback” and the abandonment of farms by farmers is “probably” going to continue in the next years, as presented in Zaragoza within the fair FIMA.
The study - entitled “Strategies and actions for a new costs and revenues structure in the primary sector” - analyzes large scale farming between 2000 and 2006 and concludes that the industry “is in a phase of stagnation that contrasts with the dynamism shown by Spanish economy”. Recognizes that farmers are facing “a continuing loss of income, in general terms”, a situation that threatens the feasibility of many farms.”
According to the report, also the average earnings per employee in the agricultural sector has increased in that period by 9%, a lower rate than the 17.3% increase registered by the economy as a whole. Farm incomes have suffered a setback of 14.1%, accompanied by a decrease in agricultural employment and in the number of holdings.
In Spain between 2000 and 2003 146,700 farms have disappeared, which represents a decrease of 11.4%. The worst part was for small farms that have been cut by 15.3%. The study emphasizes aspects such as the modernization of farms and agricultural businesses, the development of management tools, the improvement of business structures and the assurance of greater efficiency and transparency of the markets.
The study - entitled “Strategies and actions for a new costs and revenues structure in the primary sector” - analyzes large scale farming between 2000 and 2006 and concludes that the industry “is in a phase of stagnation that contrasts with the dynamism shown by Spanish economy”. Recognizes that farmers are facing “a continuing loss of income, in general terms”, a situation that threatens the feasibility of many farms.”
According to the report, also the average earnings per employee in the agricultural sector has increased in that period by 9%, a lower rate than the 17.3% increase registered by the economy as a whole. Farm incomes have suffered a setback of 14.1%, accompanied by a decrease in agricultural employment and in the number of holdings.
In Spain between 2000 and 2003 146,700 farms have disappeared, which represents a decrease of 11.4%. The worst part was for small farms that have been cut by 15.3%. The study emphasizes aspects such as the modernization of farms and agricultural businesses, the development of management tools, the improvement of business structures and the assurance of greater efficiency and transparency of the markets.
