Sao Tome marks Agricultural Reform Day
Sao Tome Agricultural Reform Day: September 30
Agricultural Reform Day is a Public Holiday in Sao Tome.
Sao Tome and Principe are the 2 Islands. It is the smallest country in the world. The provinces are further divided into seven districts, six on São Tomé and one on Príncipe. In 19th century, Sao Tome was the world’s largest producer of cocoa. The main economic activities are fishing and small scale industries. Sao Tome and Principe celebrate Agricultural Reform Day on September 30 every year.
Sao Tome Agricultural Reform Day History
The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited before the arrival of the Portuguese sometime between 1469 and 1471. The islands were discovered by Fernão do Pó and bore his name until the twentieth century. Portuguese navigators explored the islands and decided that they would be good locations for bases to trade with the mainland.
The first successful settlement of São Tomé was established in 1493 by Álvaro Caminha, who received the land as a grant from the crown. But it difficult to attract the settlers, they found suitable for agriculture is growing sugar. Sao Tome economy had changed in mid-17th century. In the early 19th century, two new cash crops, coffee and cocoa, were introduced. The rich volcanic soils proved well suited to the new cash crop industry, and soon extensive plantations (roças), owned by Portuguese companies or absentee landlords, occupied almost all of the good farmland.
By 1908, São Tomé had become the world’s largest producer of cocoa, which remains the country’s most important crop. Since the 1800s, the economy of São Tomé and Príncipe has been based on plantation agriculture. At the time of independence in July 1975 Portuguese-owned plantations occupied 90% of the cultivated area. After independence, control of these plantations passed to various state-owned agricultural enterprises, which have since been privatized. The dominant crop on São Tomé is cocoa, representing about 95% of exports. Other export crops include copra, palm kernels, and coffee.
Sao Tome Agricultural Reform Day Customs and Activities
Many events are held all across Sao Tome to mark the day of Agriculture Reform Day. Farmers make special meals and celebrate the day with friends and family. Other then that, many events are held to provide more knowledge to farmers about the new developments in the agricultural sector.
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