Arab Islamic Contribution to Agriculture in Andalusia:129- 407 A.H. / 746-1016 A.D.

The agriculture emerged as a buoyant component of economy of Islamic Andalusia. Prior to theadvent of the Islamic conquest of the region, agriculture was being managed on the old Romanpattern. The Arab Muslim rulers introduced and encouraged new patterns of crops like wheat, cotton,fig etc. and also introduced new means of irrigation, particularly the noria system. Plantation of olivewas also encouraged. Increased agricultural production not only boosted the economy of Andalusiabut also proved instrumental in transforming the dietary habits of the native population, comprisingMuslims, Christian, Neo-Muslims etc. Im0proved agricultural conditions in Islamic Andalusia helpednot only in providing a fillip to the local economy but also impacted upon the socio-economicconditions of the people in terms of providing more employment, increasing exports and improvingdietary habits of the people of Islamic Andalusia.