Since there are specific documents, it is not appropriate to say them at a banquet.

The banquet did not last long, the ministers were in a double mental and physical tension for the past two days, very tired, and in urgent need of rest, and tomorrow they have to get up early to continue to deal with the decoupling.

In the lounge, Alfonso, Campos, and Fidel sat in a circle on the sofa chairs.

Campos didn't know much about agriculture, but after all, it was a major food matter, and he asked to be in attendance.

After reading the report carefully, Alfonso gained a general idea of the agricultural situation in the Autonomous Region.

In general, Spanish agriculture was more backward than other European countries of its time.

The old system was difficult to change without the use of violence, and the feudal monarchy of the Kingdom of Spain was stable for the past few hundred years.

Therefore, the agricultural model is still primitive manor production, and the land is owned by the manor owner.

In addition to planting their own share of the land, the tenant farmers also had to help the lord of the manor on a weekly basis as a reward for the use of the land.

Fortunately, although the model is relatively backward, the rotation method is a relatively new four-zone rotation system, after all, the introduction of the method neither costs money nor harms the interests of the manor owner.

In addition, there are excellent crops brought from the Americas and Asia.

The owners of the estates were able to earn money, and the farmers of Catalonia were able to eat.

"But there are too few farm tools, only a few simple hoes, shovels, etc., many of which are not made of iron, and there are no more than 500 ploughs and no more than 100 seed drills in all of Catalonia......

Catalonia is not weak in industry, why can't it even afford to build a few farm tools? ”

Alfonso frowned deeply, he was not satisfied with the current agricultural situation, and it could be said that he had wasted a rare plain in Spain.

Fidel was embarrassed, he guessed that His Highness might have some opinions, but he didn't expect them to be so big.

Compared with the rest of the country, Catalan's agriculture can be exported to generate foreign exchange, and the amount is still considerable, which is actually quite good.

However, Alfonso saw the agriculture of later generations, and saw the agriculture of Paris.

With the geographical environment of Spain, it is not expected that agriculture will make much money, but in this era, if it wants to become a big country with a strong reputation, food self-sufficiency must be guaranteed.

"It's not that we can't make farm tools, it's really that there is no market!" Fidel said with a bitter face.

Met Alfonso's surprised gaze, he knew that this statement was a bit illogical, and explained:

"The peasants don't talk about it, they certainly don't have the money to buy them, and many of them still ask the owner of the manor to borrow the wooden farm tools they use.

And the owners of the manors have little interest in buying, the labor cost is too cheap, much cheaper than expensive tools, and they might as well raise a few more farmers with this money.

In addition to this, many manor owners are also factory owners, and everyone finds that the return on investment in a factory is higher than that of investing in a manor.

As a result, agriculture has remained the same.

In the past, we sent people to ask them if they were interested in buying farm tools, and the government could fund the construction of a factory, but we were refused. ”

......Alfonso knew that the other party was telling the truth, and that the earning power of small-scale agriculture was obviously inferior to that of factories.

Otherwise, a big country in the world will not guard the red line of 1.8 billion mu of cultivated land.

Unless there are large plains, bourgeois agriculture like the United States and Great Britain, then there will be a profit.

But the mountainous terrain of Spain certainly can't be done like this, and the farmland is scattered all over the place, and it is impossible to connect at all.

Then again, the rest of Spain can't do that, and Catalonia still has that condition.

After thinking about it, Alfonso gave up on the idea for the time being.

At present, the land is in the hands of the landlord, and if you want to buy it all, the capital and time are not enough, not to mention the ancestral inheritance, and the other party may not be willing to sell it.

After pondering for a while, Alfonso came up with a way to increase agricultural production without harming others:

"If you ask directly, of course they tell you that you are not interested, and there is no market to create a market.

Otherwise, I privately funded the establishment of a farming tool rental company.

If they rent farm implements to the owners of the estates at a cheap price, they will naturally take a more advantageous approach if they find it more cost-effective to rent them than to raise tenant farmers.

As for me personally, it's okay to maintain it without losing money, or even a little loss. ”

Fidel is happy, this is to reduce the cost of testing the water and cultivate the market.

Nodding again and again, he said: "Good idea, this kind of industry with unclear prospects and rejected by customers in advance, it will definitely be difficult for the treasury to pass, and it is only good that His Highness is willing to contribute privately."

To be honest, I am personally very optimistic about this industry, Your Highness, when you set up the company, can I buy individual stocks? ”

Alfonso smiled and nodded in agreement, he didn't expect the company to make money in a short period of time, and it would be nice if someone was willing to share the cost.

At this time, Campos, who had been quiet, spoke: "I'll make a sum too, and I'll call Enrique and them again, and we'll make a little bit each." ”

The Doge was not expecting anything to gain, mainly because he thought it would be good for Catalonia.

The company established by the high-ranking officials, even if it is just for friendship, the owners of the manor will try to use it.

"Then the problem of farm tools will be solved in this way, we will first import a batch from France, Britain and Italy, and then put the stall up, the production line is not a matter of one or two days, and strive to build it within half a year."

Seeing that neither of them had an opinion, Alfonso continued: "Regarding the issue that everyone likes to grow cash crops, we can't force what to plant, but we can appropriately reduce the tax on crops.

Especially rice, which likes high temperature and humidity, is very much in line with the natural characteristics of Catalonia, so we will guide the farmers in this direction. ”

For the time being, this can only be like this, Alfonso is a newcomer after all, and his heels have not yet been firmly established.

He is now coaxing the aristocratic bourgeoisie, and he does not dare to carry out any reforms......

The rest is the most difficult labor problem, Catalonia has a total population of more than 3 million, which is a certain death, no matter how great Alfonso's ability is, he can't become a human being, and now there is no place to absorb immigrants.

He does have an idea, and he doesn't harm anyone's interests, but it's a bit against social concepts.

Tentatively, he asked, "What do you think of women's work?" ”

The two of them were not stupid, and when they looked at each other, Campos hesitated a little and said, "Your Highness, you want to let a woman be a farmer?" I'm afraid ......"

In fact, among the poor, there are many cases of women doing heavy work, but it is all on a small scale and privately.

On the surface, the highest degree that society can accept is tailors and nurses.

"No, no, no." Alfonso waved his hand, "How can women do farm work?" But they would be happy to let them go to the factory to do some light physical work, and they would be happy to subsidize their families.

In this way, this part of the male labor force will be liberated, and we will organize an official pioneer group to absorb this part of the people to reclaim the land, so that the land still belongs to the government, isn't it? ”