Miguel Lolas: “If the situation continues like this, young people have no future in the countryside”

Miguel Sánchez, known as ‘Miguel Lolas’, is an 18-year-old farmer who showcases his work in the field on social media. He denounces drought, lack of labour, and unfair competition.

Miguel Sánchez, better known on social media as ‘Miguel Lolas’, is 18 years old and already the third generation of farmers in his family. Together with his father and uncle, he manages the family farm that his grandfather, ‘el Lolas’, started in the Vega de Antequera. They grow onions, potatoes, asparagus, broad beans, wheat, and olives, typical products of the region. But the outlook he paints is not promising: “If the situation continues like this, young people have no future in the countryside,” he warns.

An agro-influencer showcasing the reality of the countryside

Miguel started sharing videos on social media almost by chance. A first viral video encouraged him to continue showing his daily life in the field. Now, with thousands of followers, he has become an agro-influencer who brings visibility to the primary sector. “I want people to see what we really do, the effort behind each product,” he explains.

But he doesn't just showcase agricultural work. He also highlights the problems plaguing Andalusian agriculture. The drought is one of the most severe issues. “We have gone months without rain and the crops are suffering. This year’s potato harvest will be much lower,” he laments. Added to this is the lack of labour, high production costs, and unfair competition from imported products.

“Many times we work at a loss. The prices we are paid don’t even cover the expenses,” Miguel denounces. Therefore, he calls for greater support from the authorities and prioritisation of national products over imports. “They should invest in our own, in local agriculture,” he insists.

Training and passion for the countryside

Despite the difficulties, Miguel is clear that he wants to dedicate his entire life to farming. He graduated in Electromechanics from La Salle Virlecha in Antequera, a training that allows him to maintain agricultural machinery. “I am a mechanic and a farmer. This way we save on repairs and I can take better care of the tractors,” he explains proudly.

For him, the countryside has been his passion since childhood. “I have always liked it. Watching plants grow, harvesting… it’s something I carry inside,” he confesses. But he acknowledges that without generational change and support, the future is uncertain. “There are fewer and fewer young people in the countryside. Most go to the city because they see no future here,” he points out.

In the Antequera region, agriculture is an economic pillar. But drought and lack of aid are causing land abandonment. “If things don’t change, many family farms like mine will have to close,” Miguel warns.

A call to the authorities

Miguel Lolas has shared his experience on the programme Hoy por Hoy Andalucía Centro Antequera, from Cadena SER. There he delivered a clear message: “We need urgent measures. We cannot continue like this.” He calls for more investment in irrigation infrastructure, direct aid for young farmers, and stricter controls on imports.

“The countryside is not just a landscape. It is food, it is employment, it is life. If we let it die, we will all lose,” he concludes. In the meantime, he continues to lead his farm, hoping for improvements. And with his mobile phone, he records the reality of the Andalusian countryside every day, so that no one can say they didn’t know.

For the residents of Antequera and the surrounding area, Miguel Lolas’s situation reflects what many farmers are experiencing. The upcoming potato harvest, expected in June, will be crucial to see if the sector can recover. Meanwhile, Miguel will continue fighting for his future and that of his family.