According to the new mapping of greenhouses in Almeria, Granada, and Malaga, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development based on the most recent information available (2021), the area used for greenhouses increased by 0.7% over 2020. In total, the eastern part of the Andalusian Autonomous Community has almost 37,000 hectares of greenhouses.
The new maps include greenhouses located in a total of 12 regions of Almeria (Alto Andarax, Bajo Almanzora, Campo de Dalias, Campo de Nijar, Bajo Andarax, Campo de Tabernas, and Río Nacimiento), Granada (Alhama, Baza, La Costa, and Las Alpujarras) and Malaga (Centro-Sud or Guadalhorce and Velez-Malaga).
The study shows that Almeria concentrated about 90% of the area devoted to greenhouses, with more than 32,800 hectares in 2021. This is 273 hectares higher than in 2020. In turn, the province of Granada has 3,400 hectares of greenhouses, and Malaga has nearly 770 hectares.
Almeria's greenhouses
Campo de Dalias is the region with the largest area of greenhouses in Almeria, with almost 22,200 hectares, accounting for 67.6% of the area with greenhouses in the province. It was followed by Campo de Níjar and Bajo Andarax, with 9,228 hectares (28%), and by the territories of Bajo Almanzora with 688 hectares, Campo de Tabernas (359 hectares), Rio Nacimiento (284 hectares), and Alto Andarax (79 hectares).
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the area of greenhouses in the Alto Andarax region, where most of the greenhouses are concentrated in the municipality of Alhama de Almeria (40 hectares), increased by 4% (+3 hectares) over 2020. Meanwhile, the area in Bajo Almanzora decreased by 2% (-11 hectares), although Cuevas del Almanzora and Pulpi continue to lead the surface with 301 and 236 hectares, respectively.
In 2021, the area of greenhouses in the region of Campo de Dalias increased by 1% (+135 hectares) when compared to 2020. The municipality of El Ejido stood out with 13,112 hectares. The area of greenhouses in Campo de Níjar and Bajo Andarax also increased by 1% (+125 hectares), and Nijar stood out with more than 6,000 hectares.
In Campo de Tabernas, the area with greenhouses increased by 2% (7 hectares), and the municipality of Lucainena de las Torres leads the area with 163 hectares. Finally, the area dedicated to greenhouses in the region of Rio Nacimiento in 2021 increased by 5% (14 hectares) over 2020, totaling 284 hectares, 115 hectares of which are in Gergal.
Source: juntadeandalucia.es