The phenomenon of depopulation and the absence of generational replacement in the agricultural sector represent the main threats to rural Andalusia. More than half of the Andalusian population resides in about thirty cities, concentrated in densely populated areas such as the Costa del Sol or the Guadalquivir Valley, while 80% of the region's rural territory experiences a slow but steady emptying.

At the provincial level, Granada leads the list with 113 municipalities considered priority due to depopulation, followed by Almería with 75 and Jaén with 74. Córdoba registers 50, Huelva 46, Málaga 54, Cádiz 20, and Sevilla 38. This dynamic of territorial imbalance is exacerbated by the lack of essential services such as healthcare, education, transport, and digital connectivity, creating a cycle of abandonment that particularly impacts smaller and more remote localities.

Water distribution is another critical issue in rural areas. Municipalities with rainfed agriculture are the most affected by depopulation, highlighting the need for water allocation based on social criteria. Over 300 Andalusian towns economically depend on olive cultivation, which has become a focus of political debate due to the opposition from various groups to the conversion of agricultural land into biomethane plants.

To ensure generational replacement in the countryside, it is essential to offer dignified conditions for older farmers, whose pensions are often insufficient for a proper retirement. A 45-year-old farmer, who manages a 6,000-olive tree farm in Fuerte del Rey (Jaén), a town with barely 1,300 inhabitants, advocates for establishing lease agreements with tax incentives for ceasing activity. This municipality is one of 470 in Andalusia, almost 60% of the total, that are at risk of depopulation, according to the Andalusia Demographic Challenge Strategy 2023-2030 by the Junta de Andalucía.