The importance of Social Entrepreneurship through agriculture as a possible solution to the economic and social problems of rural areas

Abstract

Portugal is experiencing a profound crisis, not only economically and socially. There is a trade deficit, an excess of debt not only individual and public and there is a big difference in terms of development, infrastructure and quality of life between major cities: Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and Faro for other areas of the country . Beyond this, the country failed to invest in the primary sector that was once the main driving force of the Portuguese economy by investing primarily in the tertiary sector and for this reason the majority of jobs in Portugal are located in urban centers. This situation described has an impact not only economically but also socially as there is a strong rural exodus caused a delay of regional development and the aging population in this medium . Increasingly arise theories which support the development of Portuguese agriculture and fisheries as a solution of the economic problem we are experiencing. This is also the goal of my thesis, where the study is through agriculture is possible to solve the economic and social problems in rural areas of the country. Thus, I focused on the region of São Brás de Alportel to do my study and then extrapolate the result to the other regions. With this objective, a literature review of this thesis is based on agriculture, in its management and exploitation, it is possible to come to the conclusion that agriculture can indeed be a solution to the regional development of the country, it is necessary to a strong mobilization of all people involved in the project. In conclusion, this thesis may be important, as an alternative strategy to overcome the economic and social crisis that the country is living in particular by restoring the balance of trade, reducing unemployment, reducing the discrepancy in terms of development and job opportunities between the main cities of the country and other regions and better utilization of natural resources of the country.

Date of Award	2012
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Susana Frazão Ferreira Fernandes Pinheiro (Supervisor)