Agricultural Greenhouses in São Tomé and Príncipe. A way to Mitigate Climate Changes, Promote Food Security and Reduce Farmer’s Poverty

Abstract

Since 2016, STP has been funding the implementation of greenhouses, viewed as a viable way to guar-antee, increase, and diversify production; supply the market; improve farmers’ incomes; and mitigate climate change impacts. The greenhouses in selected districts were based on farmers’ experiences in horticultural production, available agricultural area, and capacity of rural communities to organize themselves into small farmers’ cooperatives. There are also private greenhouse initiatives. This chapter analyzed the current situation of the STP greenhouse project and its socioeconomic contribution to rural communities, proposing actions for its improvement, addressing climate changes and poverty reduction. Despite several weaknesses, mainly linked to lack of knowledge and mastery of technology, greenhouse production represents a viable alternative for horticulture development. Greenhouses, properly exploited, are a mechanism to mitigate climate change effects and ensure an increase in income and consequently reduce poverty and improve individual and collective living conditions.