COMPETITIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMMON BEANS UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS WITH TRADITIONAL AND RECOMMENDED TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP) has developed a technological package that increases grain yield of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) under rainfed conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the profitability, competitiveness, and efficiency of INIFAP´s technological package in a representative zone of the semi-arid highlands of Mexico, compared to the technology used by farmers, as well as measuring the impact of the economic policy on the evaluated systems. The policy analysis matrix (PAM) was used as the study method, integrated with information obtained from experimental plots and farmers plots during the period from 2012 to 2015. The cost of the INIFAP technological package was 65 % higher compared to the farmers technology due to more intensive use of commercial inputs and labor. Farmers, with their technology, had losses of 7.3 % due to low average yield (370 kg ha^-1), and were not competitive (Private cost ratio, PCR, of 1.10). With the technological package of INIFAP, an average yield of 1000 kg ha^-1 was obtained, the costs were covered, a profit of 25 % was obtained, and the competitiveness was improved (PCR 0.73). Both systems were efficient with a cost ratio of internal resources (RCRI) between 0 and 1; in addition, the technological package of INIFAP improved efficiency because savings for the country due to the import of dry beans were 75 %, while with traditional technology they were 52 %. The INIFAP technology implied a greater use of commercial inputs, but the farmer expense is compensated because these inputs are subsidized.