Rise of pistachio farming

A farmer is harvesting pistachios with his tractor in the outskirts of Manzanares. The amount of land devoted to pistachio trees, that can better withstand the droughts that have become more frequent and intense in Spain, has jumped nearly five-fold since 2017 to 79,000ha in 2024, according to the Spanish agriculture ministry figures. — AFP

TWO decades ago, Miguel Angel Garcia harvested grapes and grains on his farm in central Spain, like his father and grandfather before him.

Now he produces pistachios – a more lucrative crop that can better withstand the droughts that have become more frequent and intense in Spain.