Finding Solutions
Greenhouses help improve flagging vegetable production in São Tomé and Príncipe
Januario dos Remos Barreto is a vegetable farmer in São Tomé and Príncipe. His hard work and dedication are all geared toward the harvest season. Although he has high expectations every year, due to the impact of pests and harsh climatic conditions, production often falls short. In São Tomé and Príncipe many farmers like Barreto, when struck by misfortune, are helpless in the face of crop losses.
Vegetable production plays an important role in the development of São Tomé and Príncipe’s agricultural economy. Over 1.7 percent of the tiny island country’s arable land - about 800 hectares - is used for vegetable farming. Over the years, vegetable production has received broad government support, in addition to being boosted by market demand and international assistance. As a result, the country’s dependence on vegetable imports is decreasing annually.
However, productivity remains low and barely meets the country’s domestic demand. The price of vegetables is high, especially on Príncipe Island. Out of season, a single pepper costs 20 dobras (about $1) and 50 dobras ($2.5) for a head of cabbage.
In order to help the country increase agricultural productivity, gradually achieve self-sufficiency, and improve local living standards, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs established a high-level expert group on agriculture and livestock to São Tomé and Príncipe, at the invitation of the country’s government.
On April 12, Shi Chuntai, a 52-year-old vegetable expert and a member of the expert group, set foot in São Tomé and Príncipe.
This was not his first time to work in Africa. From 2012 to 2014, he was posted in Angola by the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Department of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, where he carried out agricultural projects. “I really like the simple lifestyle of the African people. At the same time, I have a deep attachment to Africa. This time, I can use my professional skills to improve vegetable growing in São Tomé and Príncipe,” Shi told Chinafrica. “It’s very meaningful and it makes me happy.”
As part of his work in the Yanchi County Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Bureau in Ningxia, Shi has taken part in several agricultural aid projects organized by international organizations such as the World Food Program, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Global Environment Facility and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.