Host Country

Cape Verde

Highlights

The SPFS helps farmers to increase their yields considerably.

Budget

US$2.2 million

Beneficiaries

Estimated 1 000 farmers

Commencement Date

1999

Background

• Poor in natural resources, prone to drought and with only 10% arable land, the Cape Verde islands are heavily dependent on food imports, sometimes in the form of aid.
• In 1999, FAO launched a Programme for Food Security on two of the country’s islands with a strong focus on irrigation. The project’s activities were extended to four additional islands, representing the main agricultural areas of the archipelago.
• In July 2002, the African Development Bank provided almost US$1 million, allowing the programme to expand into crop intensification, small-scale irrigation and the diversification from crops into livestock. 

Goals 

Test and evaluate improved technologies in Cape Verde in order to promote their adoption by farmers.

Activities 

• Water Control
• Crop intensification
• Diversification
• Constraints analysis

SSC

• Thanks to a South-South Cooperation agreement between Cuba and Cape Verde, 4 Cuban experts and 16 technicians were fielded to the FAO project to work hand-in-hand with extension workers of Cape Verde’s Ministry of Agriculture.
• The drip irrigation technique introduced by the Cubans and adopted by the local farmers proved to be cost effective and well adapted to the very dry conditions of Cape Verde.
• Other activities included: better water management, socio-economic surveys of selected irrigation schemes, creation of water use association and the improvement of existing irrigation systems.

Results

• Through this project, farmers were able to increase the yields of high value horticultural crops from 15 to 20 tons per ha, at the same time saving water application by 25%
• Farmers were trained in pest control, soil fertilization, seed production and marketing of agricultural products, benefiting over 300 families
• Improved animal breeds were introduced and about 300 breeders were trained in better animal practices.
• Animal sheds were constructed for the improved animal husbandry of goats, pigs, rabbits, poultry, etc.
• In view of the project’s positive impact on the farmer community, the Government of Cape Verde decided to finance FAO’s assistance to the formulation for a NPFS and to extend the Cuban experts’ contract until the end of 2006.