Protected agriculture
Protected Agriculture (PA) is defined as “modification of the natural environment to achieve optimal growth” (Jansen and Malter 1995). It is being viewed by several countries within the Region as a viable technology to attain a level of self-sufficiency in vegetable production and as a potential adaptation option to address the vagaries of climate change on food supply. Despite the demonstrated potential of protected agriculture, many growers have been unable to sustain and/or optimize crop yields. This is linked in part, to inappropriate designs of protected structures for the climatic conditions of the Region and production practices.