Refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns (warming and precipitation) which are altering the geographical ranges of many plant and animal species and the timing of their life cycles. Although these shifts may be natural, are mainly caused by human activities primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
Published in Chapter:
Agricultural Greenhouses in São Tomé and Príncipe: A Way to Mitigate Climate Change, Promote Food Security, and Reduce Farmer Poverty
Kiakisiki Quaresma Nascimento (CEGAFE, University of Évora, Portugal & CETRAD, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal), Maria Raquel Raquel Lucas (Universidade de Évora, Portugal & CEFAGE, University of Algarve, Portugal), and Pedro Damião Henriques (Universidade de Évora, Portugal & MED, Portugal)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 26
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9557-2.ch001
Abstract
Since 2016, STP has been funding the implementation of greenhouses, viewed as a viable way to guarantee, 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.