Abstract: This presentation is based on a recently published article (Simões et al., 2021) and a PhD Thesis (Simões, 2020), on a hybrid and multidimensional conceptual model SQual4Agri for improvement of those small farming units by bringing together concepts of quality management, farmers’ satisfaction evaluation and production capabilities, in Cape Verde. Given that in this country a small family farming production suffers continuously from limited essential resources such as water and soil for a steady development and this situation is further aggravated by the lack of financial resources, the model we have built was the result of an inquiry based on Focus Group study, carried out in 2019, with 15 farmers. In this Island of Atlantic archipelago, Cape Verde, bearing in mind the need of improving small scale farming, this is a step toward improvement in small family based agricultural organization, namely in productivity, responsibility sharing, communication and quality management. With the application of this model, we intend to help local farmers to improve their capabilities in organization and development of business. But this is a beginning of a long road for Cape Verde toward a new development in the agricultural industry through quality management, continuous improvement, with a purpose of achieving the sustainability.
Citation:
1. Simões, E.; Saraiva, M.; Basch, G.; Pires, A.R.; Rosa, Á.; Chaleta, E. (2021) Hybrid Conceptual Model for Assessing Quality, Production and Satisfaction (SQual4Agri), in Agricultural Production Units, in Cape Verde. Sustainability, 13, 1-37. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13010037
2. Simões, E.B.O.M. (2020). Qualidade, Produção e Satisfação: Proposta de um Modelo Teórico Aplicado às Unidades de Produção Agrícola na Barragem do Poilão em Cabo-Verde. Doctoral Dissertation, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.

Biography: Margarida Saraiva (msaraiva@uevora.pt) has a degree in business management (1994) from the University of Évora. She did her master's degree in business sciences (1998) promoted by INDEG/ISCTE-IUL. In 2004, has received a PhD from the ISCTE Business School – Portugal, Lisbon. She is currently Assistant Professor at the Management Department of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Évora - Portugal and a Researcher of Business Research Unit (UNIDE-IUL) of Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon– Portugal. She is coordinator of the Researchers Network of Quality (RIQUAL) and she is editor of scientific journal TMQ – Techniques, Methodologies and Quality (ISSN: 2183-0940): https://publicacoes.riqual.org/ . Her research interests are in the areas of quality and management.