The 19th Century Agrarian Crisis in Catalonia

The Agrarian Crisis in Catalonia

The Wine Crisis: Phylloxera

Catalonia faced a severe agricultural crisis due to the phylloxera disease. This pest spread rapidly and proved highly resistant to removal. Originating in France, it entered Catalonia in 1879 through the Pyrenees, reaching the province of Girona and effectively ending the "golden age" of Catalan viticulture. By 1907, almost no native vines remained.

To combat the disaster, rabassaires (tenant farmers) grafted strains from California, as those vines had already developed immunity to the plague.

Implications for Rabassaires

• Contract Termination: The crisis led to the end of the Rabassa morta contracts.
• Evictions: Landowners evicted farmers to force new, shorter-term rental agreements.
• Mobilization: The Unió de Rabassaires was formed in 1893 to demand long-term contracts and replanting aid.
• Market Overproduction: Replanting occurred just as France recovered, leading to a surplus and a collapse in wine prices.

The Cereal Crisis

Between 1879 and 1882, poor harvests caused corn prices to soar, making domestic production insufficient for the Spanish market. By 1884, Spain began importing high-quality, lower-priced wheat from Europe, North America, Russia, and Argentina. This influx caused domestic wheat prices to plummet, leading to widespread ruin for local farmers.

The Role of the Agrarian League

The Agrarian League (Liga Agraria) was established to defend the interests of landowners. They advocated for:

• Protectionist measures and tariffs.
• Reductions in laborer wages.

These policies triggered social conflict, including demonstrations and crop burnings. Additionally, the expansion of the railroad further impacted the sector. Because Spain was primarily agricultural, this crisis hindered industrialization, as the lack of rural income prevented the purchase of industrial goods.

Conclusion of the Agrarian Crisis

The government eventually responded to the economic pressure. Supported by the Catalan bourgeoisie, the Liga Agraria successfully lobbied for protectionist tariffs in 1891 to stimulate internal growth and secure the mainland market.