According to data from the Council of Agriculture, in the province of Castellon, the area devoted to citrus cultivation has been reduced by 20% in the last 20 years. In 1998, there were 43,479 hectares, compared to the 35,062 hectares registered in 2018. Distribution The general secretary of the Unió de Llauradors i Ramaders, Carles Peris, lamented that orchards continue to be abandoned due to the impossibility of making a profit from the harvests, stressing that the key factor to reverse this situation is the payment of fair prices to the producers. The ups and downs of the distribution chain and the unfair competition from countries like South Africa are also two factors that need to be addressed. Moreover, there is a problem with the predominance of smallholding in citrus farming. Efforts should be made in the regrouping of farms to facilitate the sector's professionalization and the reduction of costs. In this regard, the Council plans for 15,000 hectares in Castellon to be brought together within ten years. This reordering can be done through cooperatives and private owners and there are plans for the launch of a line of aid. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com