BAIXO ALENTEJO - Geography and history
The Baixo Alentejo is situated in the southern part of the Alentejo region and is bounded to the north by the Alentejo Central, to the south by the Algarve region, to the west by the Alentejo Litoral and to the east by a reach of the Guadiana and the border with Spain. It has an area of 8 503 km2, representing over a quarter of the Alentejo's total area, and has 13 municipalities. It is crossed by two national trunk roads: the IP2 going north-south until it joins the IP1 which crosses the southern area heading for the Algarve.
This sub-region has two distinct topographical features: the north and centre are dominated by the slightly undulating Alentejo plain, which has an average altitude of about 200 m, and the east and south have hills of different geological origins and belonging to the Alentejo and Algarve mountains. The watershed system is formed by the valleys of the Guadiana, the Sado and the Mira rivers. In view of its geographical situation, like the rest of the Alentejo, it has a temperate climate with Mediterranean and continental features characterised by annual precipitation ranging from 400 to 600 mm, concentrated over a period of seven months (October to May), and hot, dry summers.
The Baixo Alentejo is predominantly agricultural, as the primary sector represents 16% of its GVA against a national average of 3% in 2000. Most of its area is devoted to farming (59%), about a quarter to woodland and just under 2% to built-up and developed areas. In spite of the predominance of agriculture, this region has a rich natural heritage and substantial mineral reserves. The secondary and the tertiary sectors represent respectively 18% and 66% of the GVA whereas the total shares for Portugal are 29% and 68%.
Good farming potential and a downward population trend
This sub-region has great potential for farming in the form of a vast area of highly productive land which allows different options for agriculture and forestry, as well as the possibility of irrigation for 150 000 ha of agricultural land (the Alqueva reservoir and Alentejo Irrigation Plan) and the production of high quality produce such as cheese, olive oil, wine, beef, veal, sheepmeat and pigmeat.
The area also offers other opportunities for economic activity, such as good road, rail and air connections (the Beja air base), a subsoil rich in minerals (copper pyrites) and mineral water springs, a well-preserved landscape, little pollution and a rich cultural heritage as evidenced by local culture, crafts, customs and traditions.
However, there are also a number of negative factors, in terms of manpower potential and economic activity, that keep the Baixo Alentejo at the level of the most needy European regions. The manpower potential of this sub-region is affected by the population's high average age, which is reflected in the age of the active population, the downward trend in the overall population level, the low fertility rate and negative migratory balance which, taken together, are responsible for the second lowest population density in Portugal after Pinhal Interior Sul, with only 15.8 inhabitants per square kilometres in 2001.
Furthermore, substantial dependence on the primary sector and high levels of illiteracy (18.2% in 2001) aggravate the lack of mobility of labour between different sectors of activity. Finally, with regard to economic activity there is a lack of structural investments and existing investments are not properly utilised; there is an unwillingness to invest, the region's industrial fabric is very weak and there is not enough research, technological innovation or technical support for firms.
A basically agricultural region with substantial mineral resources
The sub-region?s substantial dependence on agriculture and its inadequate industrial development have been the main reasons for the progressive decline and ageing of the Baixo Alentejo's population. In the past 40 years there has been a continuous outflow of people. Between 1995 and 2002 the population had fallen by 2.2%. Most of the resident population are concentrated in the municipal capitals, the main urban centre being the town of Beja, which had 35 827 inhabitants in 2000 and presents a varied range of job opportunities. Other important centres are Moura (17 549 inhabitants), Aljustrel (11 990 inhabitants) and Castro Verde (7 762 inhabitants), which have a more diversified economic structure, which is less dependent on agriculture.
In employment terms the primary sector despite its decline in significance is still very important, employing a quarter of the total employment in 1999. However, most jobs are provided by the services sector which represents 59% of all employment in this sub-region. The unemployment rate was 11.5% in 2001.
In economic terms, agriculture continues to be the main sector in most municipalities of this region. This activity basically targets the production of cereals in the central part (near Beja) and olive oil and wine in the east (Moura and Serpa). Apart from these, there are alternative products such as honey, cheese and traditional sausages; the region also offers complementary activities such as hunting and rural tourism. Placing the emphasis on the quality of produce has had its effects. The designation of "seal of origin" has been granted to a considerable number of animal products. There is definite potential for irrigation, and after the construction of the Alqueva reservoir and implementation of the Alentejo Irrigation Plan some 100 000 ha of land will be available for this purpose. The increase in irrigated areas will make it possible to produce other types of food products and allow the development of complementary activities such as hunting, tourism and water sports.
The industrial environment is characterised by a very weak structure with a predominance of small, family-based manufacturing units sparsely scattered over the region. Among the most important activities are the extractive industries, and especially the mining of copper pyrites of which the largest deposits in Europe are located here in the Neves-Corvo mining complex. The processing industries are not very well represented and are situated near the main urban centres of Beja and Moura. Commerce, which is generally on a small scale, is largely concentrated in the urban centres and is mainly represented in Beja which, due to its geographical situation and strategic importance within the sub-region, receives a daily influx of population from rural areas.
Tourism in this region is growing with the help of vast spectrum of products on offer, ranging from the area's rich cultural heritage to traditional gastronomy and recreational activities such as hunting and fishing. This sector will also be in a position to benefit, in the near future, from the construction of the Alqueva Reservoir.
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