Roberto Rendón-Medel

The evolution of the MasAgro hubs: responsiveness and serendipity as drivers of agricultural innovation in a dynamic and heterogeneous context

ABSTRACT Purpose: Little is known about effective ways to operationalize agricultural innovation processes. We use the MasAgro program in Mexico (which aims to increase maize and wheat productivity, profitability and sustainability), and the experiences of middle level ‘hub managers’, to understand how innovation processes occur in heterogeneous and changing contexts. Design/methodology/approach: We use a comparative case study analysis involving research tools such as documentary review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and reflection workshops with key actors. Findings: Our research shows how a program, that initially had a relatively narrow technology focus, evolved towards an innovation system approach. The adaptive management of such a process was in response to context-specific challenges and opportunities. In the heterogeneous context of Mexico this results in diverse ways of operationalization at the hub level, leading to different collaborating partners and technology portfolios. Practical implications: MasAgro experiences merit analysis in the light of national public efforts to transform agricultural advisory services and accommodate pluralistic agricultural extension approaches in Latin America. Such efforts need long-term coherent macro level visions, frameworks and support, while the serendipitous nature of the process requires meso-level implementers to respond and adapt to and move the innovation process forward. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the debate on how to operationalize large programs by showing that the innovation support arrangements enacted in the field should allow for diversity and have a degree of flexibility to accommodate heterogeneous demands from farmers in different contexts as well as continuous changes in the politico- institutional environment.

Cacao in México: Restrictive factors and productivity levels

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) represents one of the most important agricultural crops of the humid Mexican tropics. In the last 10 yr, approximately 23.000 t of this grain were no longer produced per cycle. The objective of this study was to identify characteristics and factors that restrict production in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas. A survey was applied to obtain information about 184 producers and their plantations by two-stage sampling. Descriptive statistics were calculated and multilevel models were adjusted to analyze the information. Results show that there are differences (P < 0.05) in cacao yield between municipalities (380 kg ha-1 + u,oj is the estimated residual for each municipality). Crop productivity levels are higher in the state of Tabasco than in Chiapas (644 and 344 kg ha-1, respectively). Incidence of frosty pod rot of cacoa, also known as moniliasis, induced by Moniliophthora roreri [(Cif) H.C. Evans, Stalpers, Samson & Benny 1978] is significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the state of Chiapas (60%) than in Tabasco (48%).Producers who carry out more crop management practices increase yields and decrease the pathogens impact on their plantations. Results suggest the need to apply differentiated public policies to promote production within each region or municipality.

El uso de planes de negocio para la relación entre el mercado y productores de alta y muy alta marginación

espanolThe poverty is a characteristic of most of the families living in rural areas, farmers dependent on agricultural production as one of the main activities. These activities have low productivity, among others, by low technological level and it’s predominantly subsistence orientation. Therefore, monetary income is very limited and not enough to cover their consumption needs. The main challenge is to promote the competitiveness of rural families in this condition, through greater ties to the global economy. This research proposal aims to generate an operating methodological model to achieve competitiveness of small farmers in poverty and marginalization. The project was developed in the municipality of Ocotepec, considered Within National Crusade against Hunger, in Chiapas state; was divided into two stages, stage one, it refers to the identification of the factors limiting rural competitiveness and determination of portfolio of business opportunities in the conditions of marginalization and poverty; stage two involves the design of the Business Plans. It is concluded that economic identifying with a business plan activities represent an alternative to improve the economic conditions of the producers. MultipleLa pobreza es una caracteristica de la mayor parte de las familias que viven en el medio rural, los campesinos dependen de la produccion agropecuaria como una de las principales actividades. Estas actividades presentan una baja productividad, entre otras, por su escaso nivel tecnologico y su predominante orientacion al autoconsumo. Por consiguiente, su ingreso monetario es muy limitado y no les alcanza para cubrir sus necesidades de consumo. El principal reto consiste en propiciar la competitividad de las familias campesinas en esta condicion, mediante una mayor vinculacion a la economia global. La presente propuesta de investigacion pretende como objetivo generar un modelo metodologico operativo para lograr la competitividad de los pequenos agricultores en condicion de pobreza y marginacion. El proyecto se desarrollo en el municipio de Ocotepec, considerado dentro de la Cruzada Nacional contra el Hambre, en el estado Chiapas; se dividio en dos etapas, la etapa uno, se refiere a la identificacion de los factores que limitan la competitividad rural y determinacion del portafolio de oportunidades de negocio en las condiciones de marginacion y pobreza; la etapa dos consiste en el diseno de los Planes de Negocios. Se concluye que la identificacion de actividades economicas con un plan de negocios, representan una alternativa para la mejora de las condiciones economicas de los productores.

Identificación de módulos demostrativos en estrategias de gestión de la innovación.

In Mexico, the use of demonstrative models is considered a policy strategy to increase the coverage of agricultural extension services. The selection of these modules is based primarily on normative criteria. The objective of the study was to analyze the coverages obtained through the MasAgro and PROMAF programs. For this purpose, 537 maize producers were interviewed in the state of Chiapas. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the modules identified with criteria of position in the network (MasAgro) present better coverage that those that only consider the producers willing to have demonstrative modules (PROMAF). For the selection of producers and plots susceptible of becoming demonstrative modules, the inclusion of “relational” criteria is proposed, which are understood as those that allow the identification and the use of the individual position of each member of a local network, and in the structure of the network in general. These results may direct decision making of those responsible for the programs, of researchers, consultants and policy makers to consider demonstrative modules as part of their strategy or analysis.