The Spanish AVA-ASAJA reports that the Valencian Community ceased cultivating 3,548 hectares in 2025, bringing the area of abandoned agricultural land in the region to a record high of 179,994 hectares. This decrease represents a 2.01% reduction in cultivated area compared to the previous year, according to data from the ESYRCE survey of the Ministry of Agriculture. While the total area of uncultivated land in Spain has slightly decreased to 1.03 million hectares, the Valencian Community now accounts for 17.5% of all abandoned agricultural land in the country, ranking it first ahead of larger regions such as Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, and Castilla y León. Citrus fruits were once again the most affected crop. In 2025, 2,762 hectares of citrus groves were abandoned, including 998 hectares of mandarins and 722 hectares of oranges. The irrigated area dedicated to citrus fruits decreased from 140,507 to 137,745 hectares, a drop of 1.96% compared to 2024 and about 15% compared to ten years ago. Other crops that saw notable decreases include almonds (-2.6%), stone fruits (-4%), and persimmons (-1%). In contrast, some crops experienced expansion. Vegetables and flowers increased by 1,704 hectares (+9.5%). Avocados continued to gain ground, with a 5.4% increase to 4,211 hectares, while kiwi cultivation saw its first decrease, with a 3% drop to 625 hectares. AVA-ASAJA attributes the continuous abandonment of land to the low profitability of agricultural farms and the impact of extreme weather conditions, including damage caused by floods linked to recent DANA events. Its president, Cristóbal Aguado, warned that this trend risks becoming irreversible if agricultural policy and commercial conditions do not change. The organization has called on farmers and consumers to support a sectoral demonstration in Valencia on January 29, to demand measures to restore the viability of agricultural farms and to protect food security. source and graphs: avaasaja.org