Intensive Horticulture in Almeria (Spain): A Counterpoint to Current European Rural Policy Strategies

Much of the recently published literature in Europe on rural development tends to focus on de-agrarianization and multifunctionality in rural livelihoods as a way to generate employment and incomes. This paper analyses the case of Almeria (Spain), an exception to this general rule. Almeria, once one of the poorest Spanish provinces, has become the most affluent province in Andalusia and ranks now about average in Spain. This fast growth rate was achieved thanks to the development of intensive horticulture and its processes of change from the 1970s to the present day, due to the factors reviewed in the present study. This success story is a counterpoint to current European rural development strategies that consider the promotion of agriculture a mistake and advocate instead the economic diversification of farms.