Resumen

GUILLEN, L et al. Farmer's perception on the integrated pest management in tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) crop. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2008, vol.25, n.2, pp.222-242. ISSN 0378-7818.

Through the causal attributions, was to analyze the perception that have the farmers of Bojo community (Andres Eloy Blanco municipality, Lara state) on different recommended technological practices in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in tomato crop (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.). Three techniques were use to collect information: 1) questionnaire with semi-structured questions, 2) individual interview of causal attribution and 3) workshops with focal groups. The type of sampling was non probabilistic unintentional. The results Indicate that: 1) most of the interviewed farmers perceives IPM as a solution to the indiscriminate use of pesticides; 2) The six most used practices are: a) adhesive yellow traps, b) traps with pheromones for fruit borer Neoleucinodes elegantalis c) traps with pheromones for "wall bracket" Phthorimaea operculella, d) biological insecticide, e) liberation of lacewing Chrysopa spp and f) liberation of Trichogramma sp; 3) continuous attributes were elaborated to explain causes by which farmers use or not the different recommended practices in IPM 4) It was obtained a listing of testimonies that help to explain the complex and multidimensional process of technological adoption that implies Integrated Pest Management. The analysis showed that the use of strategies in IPM on part of the farmers, this influenced by the grade appropriation of knowledge, access easiness and complexity of the application.

Palabras clave : perception; causal attributions; integrated pest management; environmental contamination; technological adoption.