Economic Assessment of Conventional Broccoli Cultivation in Southeastern Spain

Europe ranks second in global broccoli production and first in exports, with Spain leading the sector. In Spain, cultivation is concentrated in the southeast, especially the Region of Murcia, one of the main producing areas. The study has three objectives: (1) to establish the characteristic cultivation model of the region, (2) to perform an analysis of the cost structure, and (3) to carry out a sensitivity analysis considering variability in irrigation water prices and the use of organic fertilizers to assess their cost impact. The base information was obtained from surveys conducted with representative farmers of the production sector during the year 2025. The cost structure analysis highlights the dominance of labor-related tasks. Preparation and planting, along with harvesting, are especially significant, accounting for over 34% and 18% of total costs, respectively. Despite this, broccoli generates only 0.22 AWU·ha−1, lower than other horticultural crops. Irrigation is another key cost factor, due to the high price of water. Sensitivity analysis shows that sharp increases in water costs significantly raise overall expenses. Likewise, the high cost of liquid organic fertilizers results in the crop being unfeasible, in contrast to the results obtained with solid organic and synthetic inorganic fertilizers, or the combination of solid and liquid organic fertilizers.