Resumo

OROZCO CIRILO, Sergio et al. Impact of technological knowledge on the adoption of agricultural technology by indigenous peasants of Mexico. INCI [online]. 2009, vol.34, n.8, pp.551-555. ISSN 0378-1844.

Results produced by a significant modification made on the traditional method of farmer field schools are presented. The main objective was to assess the influence of the level of technological knowledge, provided by the farmer field schools method, on the adoption index for locally validated agricultural technologies. The study was carried out in the Cuicateca region, Oaxaca, Mexico, which is one of the poorest indigenous regions in the country. The analyzed variables included: initial adoption index, initial level of knowledge, number of sessions of farmer field schools, final adoption index, and final level of knowledge. On a sample taken from entrepreneurial farmers, an initially homogeneous stratum concerning knowledge level and adoption indexes, 25.27 ±3.14 sessions of farmer field schooling were implemented, while a control group with similar starting characteristics did not receive such school sessions. The null hypothesis was that there are no significant differences in the final adoption index attributable to an increase in the level of technological knowledge. Anovas and correlations were used to test the hypothesis. It is concluded that those peasants with a greater participation in the farmer field school activities acquired higher knowledge and technological adoption level than the rest of the farmers.

Palavras-chave : Adopción de Innovaciones; Agricultura de Laderas; Apropiación Tecnológica; Desarrollo de Capacidades; Escuelas Campesinas.