Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, faces major agricultural challenges due to limited arable land, water scarcity, and poor soil fertility. Only about 10% of the land is suitable for farming, restricting crop production, including potatoes. Agricultural employment has declined significantly, with just 9.9% of the workforce involved in farming by 2023.
Despite these challenges, potato production remains vital for food security, with 2,534 tons produced in 2023 and per capita consumption reaching 24.09 kilograms annually.
Potatoes were introduced to Cape Verde by Portuguese colonists in the late 15th to early 16th century as part of the Columbian Exchange. Initially grown in highland regions like Santo Antão and Fogo, where cooler temperatures and higher rainfall supported cultivation, they became a subsistence crop rather than a major trade commodity. Despite sporadic 20th-century agricultural support, challenges such as droughts, poor soil, and limited irrigation restricted production.
Agricultural Statistics for cape-verde
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