The Adoption of Agricultural Technology - Food Security Group

The following data come from a study of wheat technology adoption in northern Mexico (Traxler andByerlee 1992). Surveys were carried out in several different years (results from 1981 and 1989 only areshown here). There is evidence of change in several crop management practices. An analysiS was alsodone on changes in recommendations and evidence of causality between the recommendations andfarmers' new practices. It can be seen that although there is evidence of change in four practices, onlytwo of those changes can be attributed to research and extension.Evidence of causality between changes in recommendations and farmers' practices, northernMexicoPr8ctlceLand Percent farmerspreparation subsoiling 32 23 No MinorPlanting date Median date 5 Dec. 6 Dec. No MinorNitrogen Kg/ha 176 230 • Yes Minor NoPhosphorusPercent farmersapplying 59 78 • Yes Significant NoPlanting Percent farmersmethod ridging 8 33 • Yes Significant YesInsect Percent farmerscontrol applying insecticide 82 56 • Yes Significant YesSource: Traxler and Byerlee (1992) .• = difference significant at 1%.The recommendations for nitrogen use changed only slightly between 1981 and 1989, but farmerssignificantly increased the amount of nitrogen they applied, mostly in response to economic factors. Theproportion of farmers using phosphorus increased significantly as well, but there is little evidence thatthey responded to a recommendation for soil testing for phosphorus. On the other hand, ridge plantingwas developed by the research service and the survey showed that adopting farmers learned of thetechnique through demonstrations and field days. Similarly, the survey showed that the farmers who nolonger use insecticide now take advantage of the information prOVided by an integrated pestmanagement program developed by local research and extension personnel. It is these latter changeswhose contribution to increased wheat yields needs to be examined in an investigation of returns toresearch investment. The costs of the entire investment in crop management research over the period,including research in components not adopted by farmers, must be compared to the benefits of those-elements that have actually been adopted.28