Abstract

RODRIGUEZ LEMUS, Claudia et al. Competitiveness and assimilation of information and communication technologies (ICT) in small producers of protected agriculture in Guanajuato, Mexico. Cienc. Tecnol. Agropecuaria [online]. 2020, vol.21, n.3, e1499.  Epub Aug 31, 2020. ISSN 0122-8706.  https://doi.org/10.21930/rcta.vol21_num3_art:1499.

Competitiveness in the Mexican countryside is associated with farmers who have a formal organizational structure and who are aware of being a core part of the agricultural value chain. In the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, markets for smallholder producers are mainly local, and they continually survive thanks to government support. To improve competitiveness, organizations have used information and communication technologies (ICT). Thus, the aim of this research was to verify that the assimilation of ICT in smallholder producers of protected agriculture is a strategy that influences the improvement of the competitiveness of their production units (UP). In order to achieve the above, the policy analysis matrix (PAM) was adapted to calculate the levels of competitiveness, as well as the technology acceptance model (TAM) based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA), to determine the attitudes that influence the behavior and to calculate the assimilation levels of ICT. A highly significant relationship between competitiveness and the assimilation of ICT was obtained as the main result. In this context, we concluded that the level of competitiveness in smallholder producers of protected agriculture is highly associated with the ICT assimilation level. Therefore, smallholder producers are strongly advised to strive to incorporate these in the decision-making and management of their UPs.

Keywords : agricultural population; economic competition; information and communication technologies ICTS; farmers; value chain.

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