USE OF FARMER INNOVATIONS IN CENTRAL REGION OF ZACATECAS, MEXICO

Abstract

An investigation to understand the use of innovations generated at the Calera ExperimentalStation (CECAL) was carried out in the central region of Zacatecas, México, during the second semester of 1992. Farmers were characterized according to the following factors: lnteraction with the CECAL (Z₁), Extension agents (Z₂), Business establishments (Z₃) and Goverment agricultural institution (Z₄); Exposure to mass means of communication (Z₅); Empathy (Z₆); Cosmopolitism(Z₇); Age (Z₈); Curriculum (Z₉); lnnovation spirit
(Z₁₀); Size of the production unity (Z₁₁), Surface cultivated under irrigation (Z₁₂) and Rainfed conditions (Z₁₃); and Use of credit (Z₁₄) The use of agricultural innovations by farmers is low. The most important variables in the use of new agricultural technologies are: Z₂, Z₃,Z₅, Z₆, Z₈, Z₉, Z₁₁ , Z₁₂ y Z₁₃. Furthermore there is a clifference between the ejidatarios and private land owners regarding the variables Z₃, Z₇, Z₁₁ y Z₁₃·