Abstract

SANCHEZ, Víctor Hugo  and  ZAMBRANO MENDOZA, José Luis. Adoption and impact of agricultural technologies developed in Ecuador. La Granja [online]. 2019, vol.30, n.2, pp.28-39. ISSN 1390-8596.  https://doi.org/10.17163/lgr.n30.2019.03.

Knowing the effects that technologies have on society is the essential input to motivate the development of science, since it provides inputs to policy makers to project the impact of future investments. In Ecuador, the main public center in charge of research and development of technologies in the agricultural sector is the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), which develops genetic material (seeds) and crop management recommendations to increase and add value to farmer’s production, alternatives for the soil and water management and the conservation of genetic resources. In order to estimate the adoption and impact of agricultural technologies generated in the country, 37 studies of adoption, impact and economic profitability of technologies generated by the INIAP were analyzed. These studies were published in the period 2007-2017. The average adoption rate of the varieties developed by INIAP at the national level was 37%, with an average internal rate of return of 33%. The overall impacts of agricultural technologies developed in Ecuador were positive at an economic, environmental and productive level for the farmers who adopted these technologies. These results support the politicians and decision makers in the country for the direction and strategic planning of the research to invest more in science and technology, which will allow the development of a sustainable agriculture for Ecuador and the region.

Keywords : Sustainable agriculture; agricultural economy; innovation; agricultural policy.

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