Technical Assistance and Adoption of Technological Innovations: Analysis of GGAVATT Pig Producers in Guanajuato, Mexico

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the level of adoption of technological innovations (TIs) and the effect of pig producers’ participation in the GGAVATT model in the state of Guanajuato.

Design/methodology/approach: Monthly data from 5,162 records of 260 pig farmers who received technical assistance and training (TAT) through the GGAVATT model from 2014 to 2020 in Guanajuato were analyzed. The data included participation in meetings, training sessions, and technology transfer tours, as well as the implementation of 25 technical interventions (TIs). Five synthetic variables were constructed as adoption indices (AIs) of TIs: Technical Assistance and Training (TAT), Management (M), Nutrition (N), Reproduction and Genetics (RG), and Health and Biosecurity (SB). To evaluate the effect of technical assistance (TA) on the use of TIs, producers were classified into three levels according to their participation in GGAVATT: 1 year, 2–3 years, and 4–5 years. The five indices were calculated for each participation level.

Results: The estimated AI values by level of participation of pig farmers in the GGAVATT were 0.38, 0.40, and 0.46 for TAyC; 0.51, 0.55, and 0.62 for M; 0.58, 0.61, and 0.69 for N; 0.53, 0.61, and 0.66 for RyG; and 0.53, 0.58, and 0.63 for SyB.

Limitations on study/implications: While all the AIs changed positively, the transition from a semi-technified to a technified production system was not achieved. Therefore, future studies should analyze other factors that limit IT adoption.

Findings/conclusions: The TAT activities provided to pig farmers through the GGAVATT model positively influence the adoption of technological innovations, with the strongest effect observed in the area of nutrition