Factors that influence the operation and communication of governmental support programs among small-scale bovine dairy farmers in central Mexico

Guillermo Gomez-Espinoza, Dalia Andrea Plata-Reyes, Carlos Manuel Arriaga-Jordan, Adolfo Armando Rayas-Amador, Carlos Galdino Martínez García

Abstract


Background: Social networks that comprise farmers, institutions, researchers, and outreach services are strategic for rural development. It is necessary to identify factors that promote or restrict the participation of small-scale dairy farmers in governmental support programs and their dynamics in the social network in the communication and dissemination of information. Objective: To identity factors that influence the operation and communication of governmental support programs among small-scale dairy farmers. Methodology: A questionnaire was applied to 213 farmers. For identifying differences between farmers who receive governmental supports (Group 1, n=93) and those who do not (Group 2, n=120), a Mann-Whitney U test was conducted. Variables associated for obtaining governmental support were identified through a binary logistic regression analysis. The key actors in information dissemination were found through a social network analysis of the 93 farmers who receive governmental supports. Results: Significant differences (P<0.05) were found between groups. The farmers with governmental supports had larger production units, higher technology level and perceived that it was less difficult to carry out the procedures to access such programs. Variables related to total hectares, number of feeding techniques, daily sales of milk, and perception of difficulty were associated to participation in governmental support programs. Implications: The key actors in the social network were the farmers with the largest farms, greater availability of economic resources and links with other farmers or officials from governmental institutions and organizations; however, farmers with restricted liquidity and smaller farms, but who generate links in the network were also recognized as key actors. Conclusions: The participation of farmers in governmental support programs was associated to the size of the production unit, perception of simplicity or difficulty to carry out the legal procedures, in addition to links with key actors who make the legal procedures easy.

Keywords


small-scale dairy farms; governmental programs; key actors.

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References


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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v28i3.64365

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6436

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