Abstract

ZARAZUA-ESCOBAR, José Alberto; ALMAGUER-VARGAS, Gustavo  and  OCAMPO-LEDESMA, Jorge Gustavo. The direct field support program (PROCAMPO) from and its impact on agricultural productive and commercial knowledge management in Estado de México. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2011, vol.8, n.1, pp.89-105. ISSN 1870-5472.

This research was carried out in Estado de México, to analyze the fulffllment of PROCAMPO's collateral objectives in a representative sample of producers obtained from the census of the program's beneficiaries. The methodology used was knowledge management in producers that own less than one hectare (smallholding traditional production system) and those with more than 20 hectares (commercial production system). We found evidence that the smallholding system is immersed in a transitional stage toward the commercial system, although with a progressive reduction in social, economic and ecologic profitability. Agriculture's contribution to the family economy represented only 14.8% of the total. Both groups of farmers have production costs of more than $4 000.00 per hectare; however, smallholders produce each kilo of corn at almost half its commercial value. We conclude that PROCAMPO does not fulfill its collateral objectives, and that it is necessary to include supports for public goods, with the goal of developing knowledge management.

Keywords : Innovation; smallholdings; profitability; PROCAMPO.