Agriculture in Murcia-Increasingly ecological and sustainable

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.

Hectares of irrigated land in Murcia
Hectares of irrigated land in Murcia

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

Logo de producto ecológico UE
Logo de producto ecológico UE

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 hectaresTotal area cultivated in greenhouses in hectaresEstimated organic production in tons
Cereals for grain production including rice and plots for seed production13.354,5 ——-16.376,7
Cereals excluding rice13.302,6 ——-16.151,7
Total wheat2.455,0 ——-3.650,0
Common wheat and spelled2.422,0 ——-3.600,0
Durum wheat33,0 ——-50,0
Rye and tranquillon104,9 ——-105,0
Barley6.709,0 ——-7.750,0
Oatmeal4.013,3 ——-4.645,0
Triticale1,2 ——-1,2
Other cereals not included elsewhere19,2 ——-0,5
Rice52,0 ——-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 roots228,0 ——-2.535,0
Industrial crops1.048,9 ——-1.405,2
Medicinal, aromatic and condiment plants1.039,8——-1.400,0
Green Harvested Plants1.093,4 850,0
Fresh vegetables4.500,8487,596.146,0
Leafy and stem vegetables (excluding cabbage)1.563,3——-15.390,0
 Vegetables grown for the fruit1.262,6487,555.490,0
Other vegetables grown for the fruit not listed elsewhere80,0——-1.200,0
 Bulb and tuber vegetables118,0——-1.990,0
 Other bulb and tuber vegetables not listed elsewhere40,0——-480,0
Green legumes for human consumption80,0——-716,0
Other Green Vegetables Not Listed Elsewhere12,0——-96,0
Other vegetables not included elsewhere256,8——-160,0
FALLOW THAT IS PART OF THE CROP ROTATION11.440,7——-——-
MEADOWS AND PERMANENT PASTURES2.545,3——-——-
Poor pasture2.545,3——-——-
Wasteland (wasteland, thicket, espartizal)650,5——-——-
Forest land with livestock and/or livestock1.894,8——-——-
PERMANENT CROPSOnce they have been harvested, they do not have to be planted again54.665,628,8  ——-
Permanent crops for human consumption54.633,3——-153.352,5
Fruits, berries, and nuts (excluding citrus, grapes, and strawberries)34.706,8——-21.889,5
Fruits from temperate climate zones901,8——-9.559,0
Apples2,2——-35,0
Pears65,9——-351,0
Peaches140,7——-1.830,0
Apricots467,3——-4.490,0
Nectarines70,8——-835,0
Cherries13,5——-3,0
Plums42,2——-985,0
Other Fruits of Temperate Climate Zones Not Listed Elsewhere99,2——-1.030,0
Fruits of subtropical and tropical climatic zones43,0——-138,5
Figs38,6——-91,5
Avocados0,8——-7,0
Other Fruits of Subtropical Climate Zones Not Listed Elsewhere3,7——-40,0
Nuts33.762,0——-12.192,0
Walnuts136,8——-132,0
Almonds32.657,5——-11.760,0
Other Nuts Not Listed Elsewhere967,8——-300,0
Citrus trees:3.943,4——-84.352,0
Grapefruits and pomelos91,7——-1.955,0
Sour lemons and limes2.964,0——-63.880,0
Oranges519,3——-12.230,0
Tangerines368,1——-6.285,0
Other citrus not listed elsewhere0,3——-2,0
Vineyards11.367,7——-41.000,0
Olive:4.583,0——-6.110,0
Other permanent crops not included elsewhere32,3——-1,0
Plant nursery28,828,8——-
Other permanent crops3,6——-——-
Cultivated mushrooms——-——-1,0
Data from CARM . Own elaboration

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.
Agricultura en Murcia ecológica
Agricultura ecológica en Murcia

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:

Agricultura en Murcia sostenible
Sustainable agriculture
  • 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.

Sources:

CARM

Plantae

Campoes

Are you looking for specialized information?

Contact now for free and without obligation with our team of Agronomic Engineering