Auñamendi Eusko EntziklopediaFund Bernardo Estornés Lasa

When examining the evolution of final agricultural production in this period, and in the BAC, it can be seen that in 2002 it reached a value of 469.6 million euros, in 2006, 487.8 million euros and in 2009, 421.5 million euros, as can be seen in the following graph:

However, the behaviour of the sub-sectors s differences. In the case of final agricultural production, the value of production was 16.5% lower than in 2008. This decrease is due to a price decrease of 17.2%. Production, on the other hand, increased by 2.1%: within the agricultural final production there are products such as wine, potato and sunflower that experienced increases in production compared to the previous year. The value of final livestock production fell by 14.7% compared to 2008. This is the result of a 3% reduction in production and a 12.1% decrease in prices. Regarding the final forestry production, radiata pine prices have decreased by 43% on average per year. There has been a downward trend in pine prices since 2001, which is more pronounced in 2009.

A comparison of the impact of the economic crisis on the agricultural sector, both for the BAC and Navarre, s that it has been greater in the BAC. In the BAC, agricultural production has depreciated by 15.5% and in Navarre by 11.3%; in the livestock subsector, also in the BAC, there has been a reduction in the livestock census and a depreciation of 14.9%, while in Navarre the livestock census has been maintained and the depreciation has been lower.

The following figure s the evolution of final agricultural production and agricultural income, both for the BAC and Navarre.

Evolution of the value of final agricultural production and agricultural income

Fuente: Gobierno Vasco. Servicio de Estadística y Análisis Sectorial del Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Planificación Territorial, Agricultura y Pesca. Gobierno de Navarra, Dpto. de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación.

Si se examinan las balanzas comerciales agroalimentarias de la CAV y Navarra con el extranjero se ve que han mejorado en 2009 , reduciéndose el déficit de la primera en un 8,9% y aumentando el superávit de la segunda en un 21,7%.

Respecto al empleo ha habido una disminución paulatina, de modo que el sur de Euskal Herria tenía 31.400 empleos en el año 2001y contabiliza 24.100 en 2009.

Evolución desempleo en el sector primario

Fuente : INE.

Se analizan a continuación algunos aspectos delos subsectores agrícola, ganadero y forestal del sur de Euskal Herria.

The evolution of the subsector has been negative both for the Basque Autonomous Community and for Navarre, although in the latter case to a lesser degree. Figure 5 s the importance in the production volume of two cereals (rigo and barley), alfalfa, tomato and wine.

There has been a decline in wheat and wine production, while there has been an increase in tomato production (with a smaller cultivated area). As regards the prices received by farmers, it should be noted that in 2009, the decline for cereals has fluctuated 21-27%, with prices in the range of 12.6-16 euros/100kg; in the case of fruit, the decline has varied 11-28% and prices have been 26-61 euros/100kg. The price of potatoes has also dropped by 33%, with a value of 15 euros/100kg in 2009.

The livestock census has decreased in recent years. The distribution of the different types of animals is very uneven the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre.

As regards milk production, it has stabilised in recent years, reaching a figure of 398 million litres. When examining the evolution of meat production, it can be seen that beef (28,855 tonnes), sheep (4,568 tonnes), goat and pig (50,123 tonnes) production has decreased; however, poultry production has increased (89,002 tonnes). In total, 177,746 tonnes of cattle have been slaughtered in the south of the Basque Country.

The evolution of the volume of wood cut in the Basque Autonomous Community has been very significant. In 2007, 1,068 million m3 were cut, of which almost 90% corresponded to conifers. In 2008, it decreased by almost 8%. However, in 2009, the volume of wood cut was 411,941 m3, that is, a decrease of 57% compared to 2007. One of the factors of this decrease has been the crisis in the construction sector, of which the wood supplier is the one, as well as in other related sectors (furniture sector, etc.).