For the skinny dog, fleas dominate the scene. The year of agriculture in Alicante unfolded as a year of widespread harvest declines and sharp marketing challenges driven by low prices and competition from third countries. A familiar storm intensified by a new factor simply made matters worse. The overall pressure on the industry also took a heavy toll on employment, with roughly 3,300 fewer contract registrations than the previous year, a drop of 11.1%. Citrus and cherries emerged as the crops most responsible for the labor shortfalls.
The agricultural sector across the province faced the toughest campaign in memory, with economic losses topping 200 million euros. Weather stresses linked to climate change, higher costs, and unfair competition from several regions have translated into negative outcomes for many products, affecting the sector broadly.
Why citrus stayed so prominent lies in its heavy contribution to the losses. The sector contends with large fruit flows from South Africa and, following the war in Ukraine, a substantial portion of the Vega Baja harvest went unpicked due to the European market’s deterioration for goods from Turkey, Egypt, Israel, and Morocco, and the ensuing price declines.
Cherries, meanwhile, faced a cascade of setbacks as the campaign worsened from one crisis to another. An exceptionally rainy bloom period hindered proper pollination, and loquats, peaches, and plums suffered as well from similar conditions.
Almond cultivation also suffered severe blows. The region battled with a tiger moth outbreak, drought, and the spread of Xylella fastidiosa. The Camp d’Elx figs faced reductions in quality, and olive production faced defoliation linked to spring rains and humidity, compounding the broader agricultural pressure.
These successive adversities pushed agricultural employment in the province lower, with the first half of the year showing an 11.1% decline to 26,500 workers. Industry leaders note that the drop in hiring mirrors the overall downturn in production and demand.
José Vicente Andreu, president of Asaja Alicante and an orange producer in Vega Baja, described the decline as a stark reflection of what has occurred in Alicante’s agriculture this year. He pointed to continued competitive pressures and low prices during the campaign’s second half. Many oranges and tangerines are expected to remain unpicked, a reality that translates directly into salary losses for harvesting, storage, and transportation workers.
Agriculture in the province is experiencing its most challenging year with losses exceeding 200 million
Hilario Calabuig, head of Cerezas Montaña de Alicante Origin Sect, echoed the sentiment, noting the sector is highly labor-intensive at harvest time. This year, work opportunities were severely limited, with only about 40% of typical harvest days feasible. He also emphasized that wage losses reverberate in local shops and workplaces across the production region as less money circulates in the community.
Carles Peris, general secretary of La Unió, highlighted not only job losses but also the potential farm-level financial hits. He urged measures to secure fair prices for producers, stressing that relief is not currently reaching many farmers.
Labor reform and the pattern of permanent contracts have also shaped the activity in the fields. A study by the human resources firm Randstad shows that one in four workers entering the agricultural sector does so on a permanent basis. In fact, permanent contracts now account for 25.8% of new hires, up from 4.3% in the previous year. This shift means many workers who previously filled temporary posts stay longer, while the overall need for labor declines due to reduced field production.
Experts note that the reduced field activity is the primary driver of the shift toward more permanent employment, as crop volumes remain below normal levels. The situation underscores how policy changes and market dynamics converge to influence hiring and livelihoods in Alicante’s farming communities, with repercussions felt in households, local commerce, and rural infrastructure. Analysts caution that recovery will depend on stabilizing prices, resolving trade frictions, and restoring market demand for the region’s key crops.
Asaja Alicante and other industry voices continue to call for coordinated measures that protect farmers, ensure fair compensation, and support workers who depend on harvest seasons for their livelihoods. The year’s experience illustrates the fragility of agricultural supply chains in the face of climate shifts, geopolitical events, and evolving global markets. Stakeholders emphasize the need for resilience-building strategies that can help the province weather future shocks without exacerbating unemployment or eroding rural economies.
In summary, Alicante’s agricultural sector navigates a difficult period marked by steep losses, disrupted harvests, and a workforce feeling the impact of sustained market pressures. The path forward will require both short-term interventions to stabilize prices and long-term planning to strengthen competitiveness and sustainability across the region.