Analysis of the evolution of protected horticulture in Almeria Area: cycles, structure and growth

Abstract

Almería province is nowadays one of the most important production locations of vegetables in Europe. Its around thirty thousand hectares of greenhouses make this area one of the main supply locations for some of the early season produce. This work analyses the importance that horticultural production has in the economy of this province, in absolute and relative terms, carrying out a comparative analysis of structure and evolution of the sector in comparison with the rest of Spain. Then follows an analysis of the changes experienced by the sector as for their productive specialisation. To this respect, the present work proposes a study, applying the methodology proposed by Hodrick-Prescott (1997), about the historical evolution of the production of the vegetables in which Almería is specialised, therefore analysing the tendencies and cycles in the production series of the last two decades. Besides, with the estimate of log-lineal models we are able to define what have been the growth and the structure along that same period. Finally, as summary of these analyses, some conclusions on the trend, cycle and pattern of growth of the horticultural sector at Almería are drawn.