Primary Economic Activities

1 in 9 people are employed in Primary Activities such as agriculture. The development of agriculture has been impacted by factors such as climate, relief and programmes like the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno. Unlike the Paris Basin, agriculture does not benefit from the climate due to the tough conditions.

Climates impact on Agriculture

• The Mediterranean climate negatively impacts farming due to prolonged anticyclones causing summer droughts.
• Droughts limit crop range, necessitating irrigation for viable agriculture. Drought-resistant crops like olives, vines, and winter wheat thrive, the latter used in pasta and pizza production.
• Grass growth is hindered, making goat and sheep rearing more common than cattle farming.
• Summer precipitation is minimal, with Naples receiving just 20mm in July, often in torrential showers that cause runoff and mudflows rather than aiding crops. High summer temperatures, with Sicily averaging 27°C, benefit citrus fruit production; Sicily produces 60% of Italy's citrus fruits.
• High temperatures increase evaporation, exacerbating drought and negatively affecting agriculture. Due to drought, extensive irrigation is required, with significant public funding allocated to irrigation schemes to support intensive farming.

Reliefs impact on Agriculture

• 85% of the land in Mezzogiorno is upland, dominated by the Apennine Mountains, which impacts agriculture significantly.
• Upland areas are primarily limestone with thin soils that do not break down easily, reducing soil quality for crops.
• Steep slopes favour tree crops like olives, which help prevent soil erosion by binding the soil together.
• Goats and sheep are better suited to the steep terrain than cattle, being more agile and able to graze on rough pasture.
• Steep land hinders mechanisation, limiting modernisation and efficient farming practices in the Mezzogiorno.

Cassa per il Mezzogiorno impact on Agriculture

• Cassa per il Mezzogiorno, or Fund for the South, was introduced in the 1950s by the Italian government to improve living conditions in southern Italy.
• The programme introduced land reform, breaking up estates and distributing them to local peasants, each receiving approximately 5 hectares, thereby promoting more efficient land use and farming practices.
• The Fund promoted new farming techniques and mechanisation, such as crop rotation and cash crops, helping farmers increase productivity and move away from subsistence farming.
• Reforms primarily benefited coastal areas, leaving upland areas relatively unchanged, which widened the income gap and perpetuated traditional farming methods in the less advantaged regions.