DREM publishes data from the 2023 Farm Structure Survey

Between October 2023 and April 2024, the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM), within the scope of the 2023 Farm Structure Survey – a national statistical operation under the responsibility of Statistics Portugal (INE) – conducted a survey targeting a sample of agricultural holdings within the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM). A total of 1 460 interviews were carried out with Madeiran farmers.

Used Agricultural Area increased compared to 2019, despite the decrease in the number of holdings

In 2023, the ARM had 12 202 Farms and a Used Agricultural Area (UAA) of 4 702.9 hectares (1 hectare = 100 ares = 10,000 m2). Compared to the 2019 Agricultural Census (AC19), the number of holdings decreased by 9.8%, while the UAA increased by 2.1%. Nationally, the number of holdings fell by 9.9%, while the UAA decreased by 2.6%.

The increase in the UAA and the decrease in the number of holdings in the region led to a rise in the average area of UAA (calculated by dividing the UAA by the number of holdings with UAA, which stands at 12 186), which reached 3 859 m², higher than that recorded in the AC19 (3 416 m²).

It is worth noting that the 23.8% decrease in holdings with smaller sizes (less than 0.2 hectares of UAA) between 2019 and 2023 was the main factor behind the overall reduction in the number of holdings. In contrast, the number of holdings between 0.2 and 2.0 hectares increased by 5.9%.

In terms of UAA composition, the predominance of permanent crops (which mainly includes fruit trees and vineyards) increased, representing 51.8% of the UAA in 2023 (50.4% in 2019), at the expense of arable land (which includes temporary crops such as vegetables, potatoes, and flowers), which fell from 35.5% in 2019 to 31.2% in 2023.

Regarding temporary crops (1 454.1 hectares; -9.3% compared to 2019), notable decreases were observed in the areas of horticulture (-21.6%), industrial crops (-20.1%), flowers and ornamental plants, and the combined area of sweet potatoes with yam (both -18.0%). Nevertheless, horticulture remain the most significant group within temporary crops, accounting for 38.9% of the total in this category.

Regarding permanent crops (2 434.2 hectares; +4.8% compared to 2019), an increase in the area of subtropical fruit crops was observed, rising from 1 076.4 hectares in 2019 to 1 208.2 hectares in 2023, corresponding to a growth of 12.3% during this period, largely driven by the increase in banana cultivation. The second most important permanent crop is the vineyard, with 623.3 hectares (25.6% of the total), which saw a decrease of 13.3%.

In 2023, 86.8% of the UAA had the potential to be irrigated, should the farmer choose to do so, a percentage 0.7 percentage points higher than that recorded in 2019.

In the year in question, there were 17.6 thousand livestock in the agricultural holdings of the ARM, reflecting a slight overall increase in livestock numbers, by 1.8% compared to RA19.

In 2023, the family-based agricultural population in the ARM (consisting of the farmer and their household) was 34 532, 2 399 fewer persons than in 2019 (-6.5%).

Of these 34 532, 12 008 were sole agricultural holders (the remaining were typically household members). This type of legal and economic responsibility is in charge of 98.4% of the agricultural holdings in the region.

Madeiran farmers are mostly male (55.9%), with an average age of 64, which is 2 years older than in 2019.

A slight improvement was observed in the education level of the majority of Madeiran farmers between 2019 and 2023: the proportion of those with primary education increased (69.8% in 2019 and 71.5% in 2023), as did those with higher education (7.0% in 2019 and 8.4% in 2023), while the percentage of those with no formal education decreased (14.1% in 2019 and 10.9% in 2023).

Regarding the future intentions of Madeiran farmers concerning their agricultural holdings, 98.0% assured that they will continue to maintain them, with the primary reasons being that the holding provides additional household income (55.9%) and its emotional value (27.5%).

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