The ARCO program for the control of huanglongbing in Tecoman, Colima, y Axtla, San Luis Potosí, México

Abstract

Objective: A comparative analysis of the ARCO Program is presented in two states incipiently affected by the citrus huanglongbing.
Methodology: Exploratory tours, open interviews with key actors of the ARCO program and structured interviews with producers were conducted.
Results: Both states have contrasting conditions in their citrus growing activity; such as producers' socioeconomic conditions, orchards’ scale and technological and market orientation. In Tecoman Colima, the production of citrus fruits is large scale with export production, while in Axtla de Terrazas, S. L. P., production is small scale, complementary to the income of indigenous families and oriented to the national market. Despite these differences, the ARCO program operated similarly in both conditions, affecting its effectiveness. Language, in-classroom training sessions and the inappropriateness
of the content presented in such sessions were determining factors to explain both the limited knowledge to identify and treat the disease, and the low awareness and interest of the producers of Axtla de Terrazas to participate in the ARCO program.
Limitations on the study: Due to the case study nature of the study, results, conclusions and recommendations are only applicable to the places and times being studied.
Conclusions: The ARCO program demonstrated an ill capacity to consider into its design the important producers’ socioeconomic differences. Recommendations are made to improve program design and, therefore, the future performance of the ARCO program.