“Although the value of Portuguese agricultural production represents 2% of the total in the European Union (EU), today there is rigorous, competitive, job-creating, safe, exporting, sustainable agriculture in Portugal that is part of the European strategy ‘from farm to fork’ ”, reads the document from the Caja Rural del Sur.

According to the yearbook, in Portugal, 75% of water is used in the agricultural sector.

In the period under analysis, 2023-2024, water reserves were higher than those recorded in the 2021/2022 agricultural year.

The Alqueva multi-purpose project started with 67% of its storage capacity, ending with 72%.

In turn, all other plants started the year with 38% of their capacity and ended with 43% of water stored.

The document, which provides a portrait of the different crops, using interviews with those responsible for the main agricultural associations, reveals that, from 2022 to 2023, in the main grain cereals there was a decline of 4% in the total area.

However, these decreases did not occur in corn, which saw an increase in area of ​​1% and 7% in production, and in rice, with an increase of 2% in area and 15% in production.

In 2023, these two cereals accounted for more than 91% of major cereal production.

In the case of vegetables, it is noteworthy, for example, that the area of ​​the main crops fell by 1%, but that, as a whole, production reached 18%.

“Four of the main crops represented more than 76% of production, being tomatoes for industry with 57%, potatoes with 11%, fresh tomatoes with 4% and carrots with 4%”, he highlighted.

The biggest production increases were found in garlic (47%), zucchini (37%), industrial tomatoes (32%), lettuce (27%) and carrots (26%).

In terms of nuts, the total area of ​​the main crops expanded by 7% and production by 35%, with almonds representing, in 2023, around 68% of production.

In small fruits, commonly known as red fruits, the increase in the area of ​​the main crops was 4% and in production 14%, with raspberries representing close to half (45%).

In terms of tropical fruits, the main highlight goes to kiwi, which represented around 43% of production.

In 2023, the area of ​​these crops increased by 5% and production by 6%.