Farm with 122 ha, located between Arraiolos and Estremoz, Portugal

The family still plays a very important part in Portuguese society. All family members help one another, such as the grandparents living at home and looking after the children, or family members abroad who transfer money home. Close family ties are therefore one of the key features of Portuguese society. The social security system, which looks reasonably fine on paper, does not work quite so well in practice. State pensions and welfare benefits are generally low, and they are hardly sufficient to make ends meet even though the majority of local residents enjoy rent protection and, compared to the Netherlands, rents are low. Portugal has a social security system that covers all cases of unemployment, occupational disability, maternity leave, old age retirement, etc. This insurance plan is funded by all employers, employees, and the government. In addition, there is an income-based tax to provide for the costs of the social security system. Portugal has a 9-year compulsory education system that starts at the age of six. Below the age of six, children may go to kindergarten. In the countryside, children who go to primary school are commuted to and from home by school buses. Often, the children get hot meals at school during lunch time. Primary education lasts four years. After primary school, they have to do a two-year course, followed by a compulsory three-year course. Educational courses are taught at different levels. After completing the compulsory courses, students may attend a three-year course in order to attain the level required for enrolling in university. Almost all of the population formally belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. There are three archdioceses, viz. Braga, Évora, and Lisbon, with, respectively, eight, two, and eight dioceses. There are Protestant churches in the principal towns and cities.

Portugal has a prevailing Mediterranean climate despite the effects of the relatively cold Atlantic Ocean and the continental Meseta. Hence the country has cool rainy winters and hot, dry summers. In the northern part of Portugal, the climate is distinctly different from that in the south. The north, where the wind-swept mountain slopes annually receive 2540 mm of rain, is characterized by a pronounced rain-shadow effect. In the area south of the Tagus, there is less than 800 mm of rainfall, and in the eastern part of the Algarve, there is less than 406 mm. On the whole, Portugal has westerly winds. There is a big difference between temperatures in the coastal areas and in the interior. In winter, temperatures along the coast are between 10 and 12 ºC and, in the interior, between 4 and 7 ºC. Summer temperatures vary from 20 – 24 ºC along the coast to 18 ºC in the northern interior. The Province of Alentejo has an annual average of more than 3,000 hours of sunshine, which is one of the highest figures in Europe. By comparison: the Netherlands has an average of 1,350 hours of sunshine.

The agricultural sector still plays an important part in Portugal. Since its accession to the EU, the Portuguese farming sector has received support from the Agricultural Fund. Despite EU support, however, productivity in the agricultural sector is lower than in most other Western European countries, which is partly because of the small-scale operations, antiquated farming methods and distribution systems. As production is stagnating and domestic demand is growing, many farm products have to be imported. Due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, little irrigation is needed in Portuguese farming. The soils along the river banks are very good. Apart from that, Portugal has reasonably good soils but the lack of humus and sprinkler-irrigation systems is a recurring problem. Land prices depend very much on the quality and location of the lands and vary between EUR 5,000 and EUR 10,000 per hectare. Prices of the more expensive lands are due to the availability of sprinkler irrigation. Hardly any land is leased in Portugal. Dairy farming Most dairy farming takes place in the north of Portugal. The large modern dairy farms, many of which have been founded by Dutch people, are located in the southern provinces of Ribatejo and Alentejo. Among the features that make this area so attractive for starting up a farm are its attractive climate, relatively low wages, and low costs of obtaining quotas. The milk price in Portugal is among the highest in Europe. In January 2008, the price of milk was EUR 0.40 per litre at a milk fat content of 4.1% and a protein content of 3.4%. In summer, temperatures are so high that cows need protection against the heat. During this time of year, cows are typically kept in (open-front) barns. In winter, most cows are on the land so that they can graze. Due to the warm climate and the long period of growth, high yields per hectare can be obtained provided that sprinkler irrigation and proper fertilization is applied. Because of the high temperatures in the south of Portugal, grasslands may perish from the heat if no irrigation is used, causing the lands to require reseeding each year. With sprinkler irrigation, it is possible to grow maize in summer. In 1991, the use of milk quotas was introduced in Portugal. Up to 1999, the national milk quota was not filled, and everybody was able to apply for and obtain free additional quotas from the government. On 21 October 1999, the quota limit had been reached, and milk quotas got a financial value. This initial quota value was EUR 0.10 per litre of milk and, in January 2004, it was increased to EUR 0.24 per litre, in 2006 to EUR 0.33 per litre, and from the end of 2007 it was only a few cents per litre. Arable Farming & Market Gardening In Portugal, a large share of the added agricultural value comes from the market-gardening sector. The staple crops of Portugal are wine grapes, oranges, apples, pears, cabbage, peaches, tomatoes, and potatoes. The total amount of fruit produced is about 10 million (metric) tonnes, and the total amount of vegetables, including potatoes, is 30 million tonnes. Approx. 600 hectares of land is used for growing cut flowers and potted plants. Vegetables intended for fresh-produce markets are mainly grown in the Tagus Valley and along the coast north of Lisbon. Greenhouses can be found in the Algarve and along the west coast. In the north of Portugal there are small-scale arable farms. Grain, maize, beans, rye, rice, potatoes, olive oil, and wine are the staple crops of the arable sector. The main wine regions are in the north of the country. Portugal is among the principal wine producers in the world and, according to connoisseurs, it actually produces the best wines in Europe. The wines from Redondo, Borba and Requengos are very well-known in this respect. Of the total wine yield, about 50% is exported.