Economic Sectors
Agriculture
Although Elche’s economy is mostly determined by the weight of industry and services, agriculture also plays an important role. The great expanse of the municipal area (326 km2) and the close relation of coexistence between the country and city, are two factors to be taken into account when analysing the evolution of Elche’s economy. Among the 30 rural districts, which make up the so-called Camp d’Elx, 14,247 hectares of land for cultivation are shared, making up 40% of the total area.
The pomegranate, a typical product of Camp d’ElxThere is a high percentage of worked land (over 60% of the total area of farmland), mainly dedicated to herbaceous plants (41%), followed by fruit trees (32%) and citrus trees (14.5%). Practically the entire cultivated area is irrigated land (98.7% in 2004), the main products being cereals for grain, almond trees and pomegranate trees, as well as citrus fruits (orange, lemon and mandarin trees). Competition between other sectors for the water supply and the drought in recent years have caused a slight decrease in the area of land cultivated in the area, as well as in the population working in agriculture.
The product to be highlighted in Elche’s agriculture is the pomegranate, not only because of what it represents in terms of production (almost 41% of the cultivated area in Spain can be found in Elche’s countryside), but also due to its quality. Annual production in Spain amounts to more than 30,000 tonnes, among which the Mollar variety can be found. Its production is based in Elche and it is the most appreciated due to its excellent exterior appearance, exquisite flavour and minimum seed content. This fruit is exported all over the world, although the European market is the most important in which the main consumers are France, Great Britain, Holland and Poland.
The Phoenix Station is researching the date palm Another agricultural product which is typical of Elche is the date. With palm tree groves unique in Europe containing 200,000 palms, the council’s preoccupation for recuperation of economic profitability from the cultivation of the palm tree groves has been the reason why Estación Phoenix (Phoenix Station) was created. This is dedicated to the investigation into and experimentation on the date palm, thanks to which the first “in vitro” palm trees will be able to be marketed. The surface area cultivated with date palms in Elche was 550 hectares in 2004, 72% of the total area dedicated to this species in the whole country.
Evolution of the agricultural sector
Currently, traditional and more modern, advanced crops live side by side Traditional products (citrus fruits, almonds, pomegranates) are ever present whilst other more advanced products continue to appear (nurseries with ornamental products) with a high value and high input into innovation and research for industrial purposes. Among them, those dedicated to the cultivation of flowers particularly stand out, a sector in which Elche boasts leading companies on a national scale.
The advance of the agricultural sector and related industries can be seen from the success of the occupation of the Parc Agroalimentari l’Alcúdia (L’Alcúdia food and agriculture park), situated south-east of the city barely 2 km away. It covers an area of 190,000m2 and forms a business and logistics centre for the food and agriculture sector.
Dates are a typical product of ElcheTo improve the training of young farmers and contribute to the development of the sector, the local office of the Oficina Comarcal de la Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Food) can be found in Elche. The office provides information, negotiates subsidies and promotes a multitude of activities. This is where the Estación Experimental Agraria (Agricultural Experiment Station) carries out its work, an important investigative task. The university Universidad Miguel Hernández also plays an important role in the study and research of the agricultural sector.
