Food and livelihood security 

The Arida system provides stable food and income through mikan cultivation, which is the region’s main agricultural activity. Farmers grow more than 30 varieties to diversify harvest times and reduce climate-related risks. The orchards also support beekeeping, home gardens, and intercropping with vegetables, contributing to household nutrition and resilience. 

Mikan production in Arida is deeply rooted in family farming. Many orchards have been managed by the same households for generations, using inherited techniques adapted to the terrain. Farmers rely on cooperatives to market fresh fruit and processed products such as juice, jelly, and candied peel, adding value and supporting the local economy. 

Tourism initiatives, such as harvest experiences and branded mikan products, further enhance rural livelihoods. Despite declining population and labour shortages, the system remains economically viable due to its strong regional identity, quality-focused production, and diversification strategies that strengthen long-term sustainability. 

Agrobiodiversity 

The Arida system conserves a wide range of citrus genetic resources, including over 30 varieties of mikan with different shapes, sizes, ripening periods, and flavor profiles. This diversity helps spread harvests across seasons, minimizes losses from weather events, and enhances the region’s branding and market resilience. 

Farmers adapt cultivation methods to match each variety's needs, selecting traits such as resistance to cold or good storability. Traditional propagation methods—such as grafting and seedling management—are combined with knowledge passed down within families and supported by local research institutions and cooperatives. 

Beyond citrus, the terraced landscape also supports beekeeping, vegetables, herbs, and spontaneous flora. These elements enhance pollination and ecological balance, while forests and uncultivated areas bordering the orchards provide habitats for wild species. Together, this mosaic of cultivated and natural spaces sustains local agrobiodiversity under challenging climatic and topographic conditions. 

Local and traditional knowledge systems 

The sustainability of the Arida system relies on traditional knowledge developed through centuries of interaction with the region’s steep terrain and humid climate. Farmers use time-tested methods to build and maintain dry-stone terraces, manage drainage, and protect mikan trees from cold, pests, and excess moisture. These practices are adapted to microclimates and soil conditions unique to each orchard. 

Techniques such as selective pruning, branch bending, and manual harvesting are passed down within families and reinforced by cooperatives and training networks. The system is deeply embedded in family-based farming, where younger generations inherit not only the land but also the wisdom required to care for it. 

This knowledge is also linked to the timing of seasonal work, local festivals, and weather observation. Community groups help preserve and transmit these practices, sometimes integrating modern tools with traditional techniques. The continuity of this knowledge ensures that both productivity and landscape functions are maintained in the face of environmental and demographic challenges. 

Cultures, value systems, and social organization 

The Arida system reflects cultural values centered on perseverance, respect for nature, and intergenerational responsibility. Mikan cultivation is not only an economic activity but also a symbol of regional pride, shaping local identity through family traditions, seasonal work, and landscape aesthetics. 

Social organization is based on strong local networks, including family units, cooperatives, and agricultural extension services. Farmers collaborate through shared labor, mutual support during harvests, and participation in producer groups that manage branding, quality control, and innovation. These networks help maintain a sense of community and ensure knowledge transfer. 

Cultural expressions related to farming include local festivals, culinary traditions, and stories associated with mikan varieties. The landscape itself—stone terraces, orchard paths, and community-built infrastructure—embodies collective values and long-standing adaptation. These cultural dimensions strengthen the resilience of the system, even as rural depopulation and ageing pose new challenges. 

Landscapes and seascapes features 

The Arida system is shaped by a dramatic topography of steep mountains descending toward the sea, with slopes ranging from 15 to over 40 degrees. Farmers have transformed these rugged hillsides into terraced orchards using dry-stone wall techniques that stabilize the land, prevent erosion, and create productive growing environments for mikan. 

The terraces follow the natural contours of the mountains, forming a mosaic of stone walls, fruit trees, footpaths, and drainage channels. These features regulate runoff, retain heat, and reduce cold air pooling—functions essential to fruit development and soil conservation. In some areas, forests and natural vegetation border the orchards, enhancing biodiversity and ecological balance. 

This landscape is not only functional but visually striking, with rows of mandarin trees stretching across slopes overlooking the sea. It represents a long-standing harmony between agriculture and terrain, and is deeply linked to the cultural identity and heritage of local communities. The maintenance of terraces requires constant care, reflecting the farmers’ commitment to living and working with the land.