Approaches

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Citrus Orchards [Spain]

Ayuda al fomento de la agricultura ecológica en cultivos de cítricos

approaches_2058 - Spain

Completeness: 97%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Key resource person(s)

land user:

ANDREU MARCOS JOSE VICENTE

649087588

jvagronomo@gmail.com

CITRISOL S.COOP.

Vereda Rincón de Gallego 10, 30579 Torreagüera (Murcia)

Spain

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Interactive Soil Quality assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural productivity and Environmental Resilience (EU-iSQAPER)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Agrochesmistry and Environment Department, University Miguel Hernandez (UMH) - Spain

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

23/03/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Generally, this approach aims to encourage sustainable agricultural management in citrus orchards and keep environmental sustainability in the region of Vega Baja, in Alicante province (Spain). This approach is focused on enhancing production in the region and mantaining sustainable soil agricultural management soil to improve product quality.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Water shortage and soil degradation are the two most important environmental problems in the Mediterranean area. Indeed, the problem will increase in the coming decades as a consequence of climate change as a result of a great decrease of precipitation and rising temperatures and increased evapotranspiration.
Thus, it is necessary to resort to strategies aimed at soil and water. Soil degradation is one of the main environmental problems caused, in many cases, by inadequate agricultural management of irrigation with low-quality water. Intensive arable agriculture and semiarid conditions cause a progressive decline in soil organic matter levels and associated soil fertility. In addition, under semi-arid conditions, Mediterranean soils are prone to loss of organic matter; increasing in semi-arid climates result in faster oxidation of organic matter and due the scarcity of rainfall causes vegetation cover to become very sparse. All of this leads to reduced input of organic matter into the soil. Thus, sustainable farming is necessary, e.g. organic fertilization systems have been amply implemented to increase plant productivity, reduce chemical inputs, and increase the sustainability of such agroecosystems. It is thus important to begin using organic inputs, such as manure as a nutrient source for crop production because it is imporant to improve soil organic matter. This would potentially lead to improving soil biology, fertility and physical fertility traits such as soil aggregation, porosity and water retention.
Generally, this approach aims to encourage sustainable agricultural management in citrus orchards and keep environmental sustainability in the region of Vega Baja, in Alicante province (Spain). Its specific objectives are:
(1) to enhance the agricultural production in the region,
(2) to maintain sustainable agricultural management in soil
(3) to improve product quality,
(4) to obtain organic food consumer demand in the country, and
(5) to develop a strong linkage and partnership among local stakeholders and cooperators to protect the resources.

Stages of implementation:
(1) Renting a conventional orchard and changing the agricultural management to include more sustainable practices
(2) Obtaining eco-labelling to sell organic food product in European markets
(3) Constant improvement and maintanence practices to improve soil fertility and productivity
(4) Monitoring and evaluation including operation and maintenance.

Role of stakeholders:
Land user:
1. Teaching other land users.
2. improving the knowledge through consulting IVIA.
3. Seeking advice from a biologist in identifying pests and diseases.

IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias)
1. Disseminate results through small formation events.
2. Prepare farmer-led programs to implement soil and water conservation;
3. Provide technical support and assistance in the promotion and dissemination.


2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

Comments, short description:

The video shows organic amendment application around all dripper point. The organic additives consist of sheep manure, which is applied in dripper point holes near to the lemon trees. The technology is part of the sustainable agricultural soil management of farming cooperative in the Vega Baja del Segura region, Southern Spain

Date:

23/03/2017

Location:

Municipality of Orihuela, Vega Baja del Segura region, Spain

Name of videographer:

Alicia Morugán Coronado

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

Country:

Spain

Region/ State/ Province:

Vega Baja del Segura region, Spain

Further specification of location:

Orihuela

Comments:

Municipality of Orihuela, Vega Baja del Segura region, Spain

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

Indicate year of initiation:

2014

2.7 Type of Approach

  • recent local initiative/ innovative

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main objective is to obtain more sustainable healthy products with improvements in nutritive quality without chemical substances. The production is certified by Global G.A.P http://www.globalgap.org/es/index.html

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

social/ cultural/ religious norms and values
  • enabling

The promotion of sustainalble agriculture was enhance for the SLM technology implementation

availability/ access to financial resources and services
  • hindering

No funding

institutional setting
  • enabling

Several meetings with regional associations to explain the establishment of the SLM technology

collaboration/ coordination of actors
  • enabling

Promote the collaboration with different stakeholders like students, researchers and farmers

knowledge about SLM, access to technical support
  • enabling

Biological control advisor

markets (to purchase inputs, sell products) and prices
  • enabling

Facilitates the presence in serveral markets

workload, availability of manpower
  • enabling

The workload decrease with the implementation of SLM technology

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

  • local land users/ local communities

Farmers association

Promotion of product in markets

  • SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers

Advisor

Biological control during the year

  • researchers

Miguel Hernández University (UMH)

Assessing of soil properties

  • international organization

Global G.A.P

Certification of Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) label to the executing farm

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
Involvement of local land users/ local communities Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation none Support on the idea of the implementation of sustainable management
planning none The land user planned the establishment of agricultural management by itself.
implementation none
monitoring/ evaluation none

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

Description:

In 2010 the land user hired a conventional orchard and modified the agricultural management to more sustainable practices, in 2014 certified by eco-labelling to sale organic food product in eurpoean markets, in present, the land user is in constant improvement and maintanence practices to improve soil fertility and productivity and monitoring and evaluation including operation and maintenance.

Author:

Alicia Morugán Coronado

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:
  • land users alone (self-initiative)
Specify on what basis decisions were made:
  • evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)

4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

No

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:
  • on land users' fields
Describe/ comments:

Auditors from Global G.A.P as certifying institution

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?
  • yes, greatly
Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:
  • regional
Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Role of stakeholders: IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias)
1. Disseminate results with small formation events. Prepare programs for the implementation of soil and water conservation through the farmers;
2. Provide technical support and assistance in the promotion and dissemination.

Specify type of support:
  • capacity building/ training
Give further details:

Role of stakeholders: IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias)
1. Disseminate results with small formation events. Prepare programs for the implementation of soil and water conservation through the farmers;
2. Provide technical support and assistance in the promotion and dissemination.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Periodical biological control were performed in order to avoid plagues, IVIA controlled the progress of number of farmers adopting this technology.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

An advisor collect yearly the data of insects in the plot.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:
  • sociology
  • ecology
  • technology
Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Miguel Hernández University is taking soil sampling in order to know the soil quality of this sustainable agricultural area.

5. Financing and external material support

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:
  • 10,000-100,000

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

  • none
 
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
  • paid in cash

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6. Impact analysis and concluding statements

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

Did the Approach empower local land users, improve stakeholder participation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Disseminate results with small formation events by land user as a teacher.

Did the Approach enable evidence-based decision-making?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Thanks to the approach the constant enhancement in the sustainable management is doing.

Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The approach facilitates the implementation and maintenance of SLM technology in order to increase the product quality.

Did the Approach improve coordination and cost-effective implementation of SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

In short-term more costs than benefits.

Did the Approach mobilize/ improve access to financial resources for SLM implementation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

No, the land user didn't recieve funding during the process.

Did the Approach improve knowledge and capacities of land users to implement SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

yes, the constant improvement and modifications in the sustainable management involve the land user in the increase of agricultural knowledge.

Did the Approach improve knowledge and capacities of other stakeholders?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes, the land user gives some small training coursers to other farmers.

Did the Approach build/ strengthen institutions, collaboration between stakeholders?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes, in 2015 the land user joined to the Citrisol farmer association.

Did the Approach encourage young people/ the next generation of land users to engage in SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The training course is targeting to young local farmers.

Did the Approach lead to improved food security/ improved nutrition?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes, the approach is focused in improve the product quality following a sustainable soil management.

Did the Approach improve access to markets?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes, all the product is sold in regional, national and european markets

Did the Approach lead to employment, income opportunities?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The approach lead to market opportunities

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

  • increased production

The production increase after changing the agricultural management to sustainable practices.

  • reduced land degradation

The maintenance of permanent soil cover and the manure inputs, reduce the land degradation.

  • environmental consciousness

The most important motivation of land user is the environmental consciousness

  • enhanced SLM knowledge and skills

The land user is constantly learning and improving his skills in sustainable soil management and biological pest control.

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
  • yes
If yes, describe how:

The land user can sustain the costs because the lemon price on the market increases thanks to the sustainable certification.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improvement in soil productivity and fertility
Improvement in soil biodiversity
Soil degradation reduction
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Greater social recognition
Avoiding herbicides and pesticides is beneficial for labour health
Sustainable farming improves the plant function and responser against plagues.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Modification in the quantity of manure during the year. According to the product and soil requirements
Exhaustive control in plagues and pest Hire an external advisor
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
The implementation process requires an excessive investment of money Funding is required in this step
Important reliance on weather conditions Recieve monetary compensation in case of product losses

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

1

  • interviews with land users

2

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

1, biological control advisor

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

no

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Citrisol S.Coop (farmers association)

URL:

http://citrisol.es/

Title/ description:

Local Newspaper

URL:

http://valenciafruits.com/alicante-campana-de-limon/

Title/ description:

Local newspaper

URL:

http://www.agroinformacion.com/balance-aceptable-la-campana-citricos-alicante-gracias-al-incremento-produccion-precios-estables/

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