We are going to dedicate this article to the evolution of agriculture in Murcia, especially that of fruit and vegetables. Murcia is one of the most productive regions of the Peninsula due to its fertile lands and its climate.
Evolution of agriculture in Murcia
Agriculture in Murcia goes hand in hand with technological development and irrigation.
Since 1970, when it began to apply agricultural machinery to farming and the progressive increase in irrigation, until in 1992 it became the most productive region at an agricultural level.
The Tajo-Segura transfer in 1968 gave an important boost to Murcian agriculture, although the most important advance came in 1980 with the Law "Economic Regime for the Exploitation of the Tajo-Segura Aqueduct" which regulates the amount of water that is transferred according to the area, being the field of Cartagena and Las Vegas Bajas del Segura the ones that receive the most.
Denominations of origin from the region of Murcia
- Arroz D O P
- Calasparra.
- Especias D O P
- Quesos D O P
- Queso de Murcia.
- Queso de Murcia al Vino.
- Wine D O P
- Bullas.
- Jumilla.
- Yecla.
- Pears D O P
- Jumilla.
PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
AGRI-FOOD QUALITY GUARANTEE MARK
Evolution of crops in hectares
How we can visualize in the graphs, we highlight:
- Cereal grains, considerable increase in production of oats, barley and wheat.
- Leguminous, mainly increase lentils but without reaching the production of 2014.
- Industrial crops, on the rise, highlighting the production of lavender, lavender, sage and paprika peppers.
- The flowers maintain a stable production except for the cuttings that increase considerably.
- Forages remain stable.
- Vegetables: the increase in chard, cauliflower, collard greens, cabbage, spinach, peas, lettuce, cucumber, watermelon and carrot stands out, although the total remains stable or falling .
- Citrus fruit trees, highlighting the increase in lemon and mandarin trees.
- Non-citrus fruit trees, production decreases in general except for avocado, almond, guava, cherry, prickly pear, pomegranate, fig, mango, walnut and pistachio.
- Vineyards, slightly decreased production of table grapes and wine grapes.
- Olive grove, is also lowering production although it maintains a certain stability.
- Woody, they maintain a certain stability in the last seven years.
Organic farming in Murcia
Organic farming is today the basis of Murcian agriculture, excluding chemical products and obtaining crops with natural properties.
The Organic Agriculture Council of Murcia is the body in charge of its control and grants the corresponding seal. Currently 406 producers are registered.
The products that stand out are: fruits, vegetables, rice, grapes, almonds and cereals.
Also make reference to the organic production of spinach which is almost exclusive to the community of Murcia.
The following table provides us with all the information on organic production in Murcia:
| Registered cultivated area in hectares | Total area cultivated in greenhouses in hectares | Estimated organic production in tons | |
| Cereals for grain production including rice and plots for seed production | 13.354,5 | ——- | 16.376,7 |
| Cereals excluding rice | 13.302,6 | ——- | 16.151,7 |
| Total wheat | 2.455,0 | ——- | 3.650,0 |
| Common wheat and spelled | 2.422,0 | ——- | 3.600,0 |
| Durum wheat | 33,0 | ——- | 50,0 |
| Rye and tranquillon | 104,9 | ——- | 105,0 |
| Barley | 6.709,0 | ——- | 7.750,0 |
| Oatmeal | 4.013,3 | ——- | 4.645,0 |
| Triticale | 1,2 | ——- | 1,2 |
| Other cereals not included elsewhere | 19,2 | ——- | 0,5 |
| Rice | 52,0 | ——- | 225,0 |
| Dried legumes and protein crops for grain production (including mixtures of cereals and legumes and plots for seed production) | 198,6 | ——- | 70,0 |
| Tubers and roots | 228,0 | ——- | 2.535,0 |
| Industrial crops | 1.048,9 | ——- | 1.405,2 |
| Medicinal, aromatic and condiment plants | 1.039,8 | ——- | 1.400,0 |
| Green Harvested Plants | 1.093,4 | 850,0 | |
| Fresh vegetables | 4.500,8 | 487,5 | 96.146,0 |
| Leafy and stem vegetables (excluding cabbage) | 1.563,3 | ——- | 15.390,0 |
| Vegetables grown for the fruit | 1.262,6 | 487,5 | 55.490,0 |
| Other vegetables grown for the fruit not listed elsewhere | 80,0 | ——- | 1.200,0 |
| Bulb and tuber vegetables | 118,0 | ——- | 1.990,0 |
| Other bulb and tuber vegetables not listed elsewhere | 40,0 | ——- | 480,0 |
| Green legumes for human consumption | 80,0 | ——- | 716,0 |
| Other Green Vegetables Not Listed Elsewhere | 12,0 | ——- | 96,0 |
| Other vegetables not included elsewhere | 256,8 | ——- | 160,0 |
| FALLOW THAT IS PART OF THE CROP ROTATION | 11.440,7 | ——- | ——- |
| MEADOWS AND PERMANENT PASTURES | 2.545,3 | ——- | ——- |
| Poor pasture | 2.545,3 | ——- | ——- |
| Wasteland (wasteland, thicket, espartizal) | 650,5 | ——- | ——- |
| Forest land with livestock and/or livestock | 1.894,8 | ——- | ——- |
| PERMANENT CROPS–Once they have been harvested, they do not have to be planted again | 54.665,6 | 28,8 | ——- |
| Permanent crops for human consumption | 54.633,3 | ——- | 153.352,5 |
| Fruits, berries, and nuts (excluding citrus, grapes, and strawberries) | 34.706,8 | ——- | 21.889,5 |
| Fruits from temperate climate zones | 901,8 | ——- | 9.559,0 |
| Apples | 2,2 | ——- | 35,0 |
| Pears | 65,9 | ——- | 351,0 |
| Peaches | 140,7 | ——- | 1.830,0 |
| Apricots | 467,3 | ——- | 4.490,0 |
| Nectarines | 70,8 | ——- | 835,0 |
| Cherries | 13,5 | ——- | 3,0 |
| Plums | 42,2 | ——- | 985,0 |
| Other Fruits of Temperate Climate Zones Not Listed Elsewhere | 99,2 | ——- | 1.030,0 |
| Fruits of subtropical and tropical climatic zones | 43,0 | ——- | 138,5 |
| Figs | 38,6 | ——- | 91,5 |
| Avocados | 0,8 | ——- | 7,0 |
| Other Fruits of Subtropical Climate Zones Not Listed Elsewhere | 3,7 | ——- | 40,0 |
| Nuts | 33.762,0 | ——- | 12.192,0 |
| Walnuts | 136,8 | ——- | 132,0 |
| Almonds | 32.657,5 | ——- | 11.760,0 |
| Other Nuts Not Listed Elsewhere | 967,8 | ——- | 300,0 |
| Citrus trees: | 3.943,4 | ——- | 84.352,0 |
| Grapefruits and pomelos | 91,7 | ——- | 1.955,0 |
| Sour lemons and limes | 2.964,0 | ——- | 63.880,0 |
| Oranges | 519,3 | ——- | 12.230,0 |
| Tangerines | 368,1 | ——- | 6.285,0 |
| Other citrus not listed elsewhere | 0,3 | ——- | 2,0 |
| Vineyards | 11.367,7 | ——- | 41.000,0 |
| Olive: | 4.583,0 | ——- | 6.110,0 |
| Other permanent crops not included elsewhere | 32,3 | ——- | 1,0 |
| Plant nursery | 28,8 | 28,8 | ——- |
| Other permanent crops | 3,6 | ——- | ——- |
| Cultivated mushrooms | ——- | ——- | 1,0 |
Functions of the ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE COUNCIL
- Apply, within the scope of its powers, the Control System established in Regulation EEC 2092/91.
- Disseminate knowledge and application of organic production systems.
- Formulate guidelines and proposals for actions in agriculture, livestock and production processing.
- Resolve on conformity or non-conformity with the control regime of operators of organic products.
- Ensure the correct use of identification indications.
Who constitutes the Council?
The Council of Organic Agriculture of the Region of Murcia is made up of ten members:
- A President, appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Water and the Environment at the proposal of the members.
- Dos representantes de la Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Medio Ambiente. Actúan como invitados.
- The Technical Director of the Council.
- The Secretary of the Council is appointed from among the members.
- The Vice President of the Council is appointed from among the members.
- 3 members of the production sector.
- 3 members of the manufacturing and/or importing companies.
Sustainable agriculture in Murcia
The production of vegetables in Murcia uses resources and mechanisms that ensure sustainable agriculture. Many farmers of the following crops are registered with the sustainability mark:
Arable crops:
- Cotton
- Celery.
- Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage.
- Endive.
- Lettuce.
- Melon and Watermelon.
- Pepper for Paprika.
- Greenhouse pepper.
- Tomato.
Woody crops:
- Almond.
- Citrus.
- Stone fruit trees.
- Olive.
- Pear tree.
- Vine.
Objectives of sustainable agriculture in Murcia
The ultimate goal of organic and sustainable agriculture is to improve the environment while increasing the quality and quantity of the product.
In a region like Murcia, where it is necessary to regulate irrigation areas in the Campo de Cartagena to save the Mar Menor, we have to emphasize the importance of increasing organic farming.
The regulation requires reducing the contribution of chemical nutrients and other measures that we have already collected in the article «Save the Mar Menor with sustainable and precision agriculture«.
Plantae Sensors in the Region of Murcia
For Plantae, it is a priority to give an agile and personalized response to each of our clients, and for this, there is nothing better than having a network of expert distributors in crops and local needs. This is the case of Campoés and its subsidiary Prosercam, located in Torre Pacheco and Cieza respectively.
Campoés offers products, advice and innovation thanks to its great experience and knowledge of agriculture, and the constant search for novelties and cutting-edge services, such as humidity, conductivity, temperature and humidity probes/sensors. other parameters developed by Plantae.
We are in most of the plantations in the Region, because it is committed to quality and the implementation of a circular agriculture based on:
- Reduce costs, water and energy where our company plays a fundamental role with wireless sensors and a Hub powered by solar panels.
- Recycle waste products and pruning debris.
- Reuse plastics and create compost with recycled organic matter.
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