Farm practice adoption among campesinos in Tomina province, Bolivia

The decision to adopt new farm practices usually takes time. Bolivia’s campesinos, in general, and those of Chuquisaca area in particular, have strong traditional customs and beliefs. These people normally do not adopt a new practice or idea as soon as they hear about it. The major objective of this study is to determine the relative effectiveness of the Extension Agency of Tomina Province in achieving its objectives. Subjects objectives: to determine the degree of interest of the campesinos those farm practices of which they are aware; to determine the extent to which the campesinos have tried and adopted the recommended farm practices; to determine the nature of the Extension teaching methods used by the Extension Agency; to determine the possible relationship that exist between the independent variables (age, literacy, tenacy, marital status, and extension teaching methods) and the adoption of farm practices. As source of information, the primary source were the campesinos of four cantones where the organization has been in operation: Padilla, Alcala, Sopachuy and Tomina. The criteria for selection were: agricultural importance, homogeneous of the population, geographical characteristics, isolation from the city of Sucre. As an instrument, an interviewed questionnaire was applied. As conclusions: the extension agent was well known among the campesinos, the 5 practices having highest adoption rates were: 1) control of house insects, 2) livestock castration, 3) control of external parasites in sheep, 4) control of internal parasites in sheep, 5) use of chemical fertilizer. More than 40% of campesinos indicated that the extension agent was the best source of information.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	93451 Mendoza Morato, L.A., 6433 Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y. (EUA), IICA
Format:	biblioteca
Language:	| 0
Published:	Ithaca, Estados Unidos de América: Cornell University, 1967
Subjects:	CULTIVO, CAMPO, SOCIOLOGIA RURAL, BOLIVIA,
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