The island of Tenerife stops the tendency to lose productive space in the field. It is the main conclusion emanating from the update for the period 2016-2021 of the data of the Map of Crops of the Canary Islands Government, completed last February and released a few days ago. The area cultivated in that five-year period in Tenerife has increased by 1,119 hectares to exceed 18,700 (18,738 exactly) today.
The first thing is to put in situation. Tenerife has been losing cultivated area for about fifteen years with occasional rebounds. This scenario remained practically unchanged from the start of the covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020, until these new data were published. Between 2007 and 2019 the decrease in absolute numbers was 7,000 hectares, 70 million square meters, the equivalent of about 7,000 soccer fields.
The vegetable garden continues to prevail in Tenerife with 43% of the total farms
Uncultivated agricultural space, on the other hand, has decreased by 2,714 hectares from 22,375 five years ago to 19,661 today. The results of the study reflect this significant reduction, which is due, in large part, to the increase in crops linked to orchards and fruit trees, especially avocado, as well as the entry into cultivation of what until now were old wasteland
The orchard predominates.
According to the report, the orchard continues to be the predominant cultivated area in Tenerife (43% of the total), followed by bananas (20%), vineyards (15.6%) and fruit trees (12.7%). Ornamental crops are limited to 1.9% and tomato maintains the negative trend that had already been detected since previous campaigns, and its value stands at -–0.5%. Likewise, the irrigated area (2,519 total) has been expanded by 520 hectares, which is fundamentally linked to the increase in the aforementioned orchard (454 hectares) and fruit trees (535). In addition, grazing on agricultural land has increased or begun (292, +130).
Javier Parrilla, island councilor for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, states that a detailed analysis of the breakdown by municipalities is necessary and rejects the euphoria despite assessing the production of abandoned land. In any case, he underlines: “That increase, although small, exists, and makes us think that we are on the right track to achieve business confidence.”
The most positive thing is the increase in orchards, especially vegetables, focused on fallow. There is also an increase in fruit trees, especially olive groves and, to a greater extent, avocado. In addition, cereals, legumes and fodder rise. The garden thing comes from the confinement when many were recovered and then have not been abandoned. This is demonstrated by the interest in irrigation with Balten water. Is about non-professional small farmers harvesting for personal economy but they gain cultivated territory. The council commitment to the product and its direct marketing in the Farmer’s Markets.
The ‘green gold’.
The consolidation of the avocado has a fundamentally economic connotation due to its high profitability. The map of the Island shows three large spots at the productive level. In the first place, in a strip parallel to the southern motorway, the TF-1, from before the Güímar tunnels until after its municipal area. Also in the North, in La Orotava and Los Realejos, where there is a strong bet, and it is probable that the banana will be replaced by avocado. Lastly, in the Northeast region, Tegueste, Tejina and Valle de Guerra.
The vineyard.
Within the cultivated area, the main reductions are focused on vineyards and tomatoes, “for which we are already taking sanitation measures that will generate better and higher productivity in the future,” Javier Parrilla details. He is concerned about “the decline” of 230 hectares of vineyards, although, on the other hand, “the vineyards have replaced the wasteland in another 152.” He considers that “it must be analyzed because the sector has well-established marketing bases, there is quality wine and the grape can be obtained at a good price.” The location of the drop of 10% in Tegueste and the same in Granadilla «must be studied because in both places there are no water problems and in the south the existence of a powerful Regulatory Council such as that of Abona stands out».
The counselor recalls the initiative for the sanitation of the vine with the philosophy of emphasizing the development of the wineries “where the aid has to go” which this year amounts to 100,000 euros to stop this specific drop. He values the work carried out in the wineries by the six Denominations of Origin and their respective Regulatory Councils. Productivity and commercialization are the fundamental factors to pamper.
Agricultural grazing.
Parrilla points to another positive fact to conclude: the increase in agricultural grazing that has recovered 130 hectares. In this area, he underlines, “we continue to work” hand in hand with groups such as the Tenerife Breeders’ Association (Agate) or the Goat Breeders (Acricate). An orderly grazing, in clean areas without vegetation and that can be delimited, even to act as firebreaks. Typical of the tradition of Tenerife, which is that of the transhumant movement of herds from the coast to the mountains and vice versa.
Helps.
The counselor emphasizes that this year the Cabildo promotes a call for aid for the recovery and putting abandoned land into cultivation, which will have a budget of 48,730 euros. In the same way, it emphasizes the Agrojoven Awards, endowed with 20,000 euros, and the José Luis Porcuna agri-food scholarships, for which an item of 21,600 euros has been allocated.
Parrilla concludes with a resounding expression: “There is still a lot to plow.” Just one thing. Of the total 202,921 hectares where it would be possible to cultivate in theory, there are only 18,738 in production, a very poor 9.23%.
