Migrations, agriculture and crisis in the Mediterranean space. A comparative study between Andaluzia (Spain) and Calabria (Italy). XIII World Congress of Rural Sociology -"The New Rural World: From Crisis to Opportunities", Lisbona (Portogallo), 29 luglio - 4 agosto 2012.

1. Alessandra Corrado
a.corrado@unical.it
Francesco Caruso
fracaruso@XXIII World Congress of Rural Sociology, The New Rural World: unical.it
From Crises to Opportunities, July 29-August 4 2012, Lisbon

2. Outlines
Theoretical Background
Mediterranean model of migrations
for
A new Mediterranean model of agriculture and rural
fabric
Hypothesis
Case studies
The Sybaris Plain in Calabria (Italy)
Almeria in Andalusia (Spain)

3. Theoretical Background
Differentiated countryside (Morgan et al. 2000)
Southern European Model of Migrations (King 2000)
Californian Model of agriculture and reserve army of
labor (Berlan) in Southern Europe?
Multifunctional migrations in rural areas (Kasimis
2008)

4. The Mediterranean model of migrations
polycentric aggregation of migrants due to the presence of
several national groups and the continuous emergence of new
ones.
segmentation of the labor market according to ethnic
origin, as a result of stigmatization based on racial criteria
combined with capitalist restructuring and respatialization.
(King 2000)
Irregular immigrants
the apparent paradox of “cohabitation” exists between
immigration and unemployment
local demand for the labor force is directed toward less qualified,
poorly paid, and highly insecure jobs, while the local labor supply
is characterized by young people with a high level of education,
who, in turn, decide to migrate elsewhere.
underground economy

5. A Californian Model of agriculture?
Intensification of agriculture
immigrant labor force (flexible, redundant, and
willing to accept low salaries ) as structural need for
the development of the agricultural sector
Cycles of ethnic substitution
racism as an “ideological justification” for the
violence of agrarian social relationships (Berlan 2008):
“artificial barriers” corresponding to “administrative
barriers” have been created to the purpose of limiting
the mobility of workers, and assuring their under-utilization
and existence in a reserve army of labour
for the needs of intensive agriculture.

6. A Mediterranean model of agriculture
agricultural trade liberalization
direct competition from the imports from Mediterranean Partner
Countries (MPCs) which have signed free trade agreements with the
EU
there are 35 EU regions in which fruits and vegetables (in addition to
olives) represent more than 45% of the gross added value of the
regional agricultural sector and these regions are localized essentially
in Southern Europe
income difficulties faced by the agricultural areas specialized in
fruit and vegetables (F&V), in Italy and Spain
lagged response of supply when assets are specific and lack flexibility
(permanent crops, small farms)
overproduction
Growing relevance of the negotiation capability of modern
distribution

7. MPCs
decrease of the total area of cultivated land in corn
more intensive large-scale agriculture
decreased soil quality
undernourished people
food import-dependent regions

8. Hypothesis
Transition in agriculture  Imperial networks
Racializzation of Labor  flexibility and violence
transformations of rural areas pivoting on these new
inhabitants and reordering of social relations on ethnic
and racial basis, as a consequence of the forms of
regulation concerning migrations movements and of
economic and agriculture transition
Crisis  block of turn over or return to agriculture

9. Immigrants in Southern Agriculture
1) mostly irregular immigrants or asylum seekers
waiting for permits;
2) rejected immigrants or immigrants with expired
residence permits – as a consequence of the crisis of
the international asylum system;
3) refugees and legal immigrants doing seasonal work
during their holidays or more recently dismissed by
the industries of the north following the economic
crisis;
4) seasonal or temporary migrants.

10. Migration dynamics in Southern Italy and Spain
transit migration, before moving in the center- North
of the country or abroad,
shift migration, from the Northern regions or cities
transhumant migration across the various regions of
the south of Italy and Spain according to seasonal
harvests and thus to employment opportunities in the
agricultural sector.
circular migration from and to the origin country
long-staying migration settlement

11. Harvests in Southern Italy
Plain of
Sybaris
Plain of
Rosarno_Gioia Tuaro

12. Harvests in Southern Spain

13. Migration Pull factors
cheaper primary goods and housing,
job opportunities in agriculture or underground
economy,
less controls (in the case of overstaying after their visa
have expired – as an effect of the security norms; in
the case of irregular entry or rejected asylum seekers)

14. The rural ghettos
Services ALMERIA* South
ITALIA**
Drinkable
Water
68% 36%
Electricity 71% 31%
Heating 1% 8%
Kitchen 75% 40%
Toilets 72% 38% *J. C. Checa Olmos, M. A. Arjona Garrido (2006)
** Medici Senza Frontiere (2008)
Almeria Boreano

15. Almeria
 The widest and most
productive horticultural
district in Europe
 30.000 he of continuous
cycles greenhouses systems
(invernaderos)de-seasoning
 >1,7 miliardi € per year
 From emigration abroad to
immigration Maghrebin
and Estern European
 Small-medium properties (3,5
he medium size)
 Public/Private Research-
Production connections
 technologization and
standardization of production
 New entrepreneurs
 Global distribution networks
The Sybaris Plain
• Citrus fruit production
• Small-medium farms
• Cooperatives
• Criminal organization
• From emigration abroad to
immigration Maghrebins and
Eastern European
• Growing competition from Spain
and Morocco
• New Eastern European markets
• Commercial brokers and big
Retailers pressures
• permanent crops and
monocolture
• Innovation shutdown
• Supply disorganization

16. Agriculture Dependence
Distribution
Technology
Finance
Growing competition
income difficulties
Social conflicts
Food insecurity

17. Which future for Southern European agriculture?
Restructuring
deactivation
Which models of inclusion or multiculrural
reorganization?
Which social, economic and environmental effects for
MPCs?