Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
The expanding demand for livestock products in developing countries is expected to drive changes in livestock farming systems, such as intensification and technological development. However, while large commercial farms can take advantage of these new opportunities, semi-subsistence agriculture will...
| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2008
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2183 |
| _version_ | 1855543543024582656 |
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| author | Bernués, A. Herrero, Mario |
| author_browse | Bernués, A. Herrero, Mario |
| author_facet | Bernués, A. Herrero, Mario |
| author_sort | Bernués, A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The expanding demand for livestock products in developing countries is expected to drive changes in livestock farming systems, such as intensification and technological development. However, while large commercial farms can take advantage of these new opportunities, semi-subsistence agriculture will be the main option for many poor livestock keepers. Development pathways may depend on local and farm-specific conditions. In this paper we: i) typify mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) from the point of view of their structural and socio-economical characteristics; ii) deepen the analysis of farm economics and level of intensification and iii) identify factors associated to the adoption of technologies. Three farming systems (specialized large commercial livestock farms, medium-size agricultural farms, and small semi-commercial mixed farms) were clearly differentiated in terms of structure, production orientation, economics and intensification level. The adoption of technologies (use of concentrates, pasture fertilization, cultivation of cut and carry pastures and use of dairy breeds) was related to distance from the farm to the nearest population, farmer education, farmer age and income. Policies directed towards improving market access and rural infrastructure would reduce transaction costs and increase non-farm employment opportunities. Similarly, investments in education and training would improve management capacity and technology adoption. However, current extension services do not seem to have an effect on technology adoption and, therefore, need to be improved/ better targeted. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace2183 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publishDateRange | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace21832024-01-22T09:44:16Z Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Bernués, A. Herrero, Mario farming systems The expanding demand for livestock products in developing countries is expected to drive changes in livestock farming systems, such as intensification and technological development. However, while large commercial farms can take advantage of these new opportunities, semi-subsistence agriculture will be the main option for many poor livestock keepers. Development pathways may depend on local and farm-specific conditions. In this paper we: i) typify mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) from the point of view of their structural and socio-economical characteristics; ii) deepen the analysis of farm economics and level of intensification and iii) identify factors associated to the adoption of technologies. Three farming systems (specialized large commercial livestock farms, medium-size agricultural farms, and small semi-commercial mixed farms) were clearly differentiated in terms of structure, production orientation, economics and intensification level. The adoption of technologies (use of concentrates, pasture fertilization, cultivation of cut and carry pastures and use of dairy breeds) was related to distance from the farm to the nearest population, farmer education, farmer age and income. Policies directed towards improving market access and rural infrastructure would reduce transaction costs and increase non-farm employment opportunities. Similarly, investments in education and training would improve management capacity and technology adoption. However, current extension services do not seem to have an effect on technology adoption and, therefore, need to be improved/ better targeted. 2008 2010-08-05T07:38:41Z 2010-08-05T07:38:41Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2183 en Open Access Bernues, A.; Herrero, M. 2008. Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 6(2):279-293. |
| spellingShingle | farming systems Bernués, A. Herrero, Mario Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| title | Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| title_full | Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| title_fullStr | Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| title_short | Farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop-dairy systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| title_sort | farm intensification and drivers of technology adoption in mixed crop dairy systems in santa cruz bolivia |
| topic | farming systems |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2183 |
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