ADOPTION OF TWO ADAPTIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: BASIC GRAINS THRU SCATTERED TREES AND BASIC GRAIN AT IMPROVED ALLEYS CROPPING SYSTEMS IN NICARAGUA DRY ZONE, 2006-2008

Abstract

Today there are no records of studies of acceptance and / or adoption of agroforestry systems, as well as, practices and technologies of soil and water conservation by farmers who have established such systems in the dry region of western Nicaragua, hence the need for acceptance and adoption studies in the area. The objectives of the study were to describe the agronomic and physical soil conservation practices most used by farmers in adaptive production systems of basic grains with scattered trees (GBAD), and Enhanced Basic Grains in Alleys (GBCM), and assess the acceptance and adoption of the two adaptive production systems promoted by the project Sustainable Land Management, executed by farming families from seven municipalities in the dry zone of León, Chinandega and Managua municipality in 2006-2008. This study is descriptive and cross-sectional with quantitative and qualitative assessments in relation to current and potential use of the production systems. The research methodology used was analysis of decision making through rapid method for various systems. This methodology is designed to make decisions using simple indicators to prioritize the problems at the farm level based on three criteria: priority, management capacity and disposition of the environment. The methodology of the Hillside Sustainable Agriculture program in Central America (PASOLAC by its Spanish acronyms) was used to assess the degree of acceptance and adoption. Farmers who own large tracts of land were those that least adopted and accepted the new technologies, while farmers with smaller land area farms showed greater acceptance and adoption of the system. Trainers agencies which had significant presence in the study areas were the Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), as well as the MST project, both have worked together for the dissemination of the new technologies. The Environmental Unit (UAM) group showed lower presence in the area of study. Adoption of agroforestry systems was 100% in all municipalities, a consolidated figure for all municipalities shows that 73 % of the surveyed population has managed to adopt production systems of GBCM and GBAD, thereby improving production and conserving soil moisture. The agronomic and physical soil conservation practices most used by farmers are minimum tillage, cover crops, contour lines and no burning.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v12i19.1186

La Calera Revista Científica Vol. 12. Nº 19, p. 116-123 / diciembre 2012