Abstract

SANCHEZ-HERNANDEZ, Miguel A. et al. Diagnosis of agricultural machinery in Amecameca and Texcoco, Estado de México. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2014, vol.11, n.4, pp.499-516. ISSN 1870-5472.

The objective of the study was to perform a diagnosis of the agricultural machinery and to obtain the mechanization index in the region of Amecameca and Texcoco, Estado de México. The study subjects were agricultural producers who benefited from government programs in 1996 to 2006. A survey was applied to 133 producers who were selected through a stratified probabilistic sample. The results indicate that the average surface where a tractor is used is lower (27.8 ha tractor^-1) than recommended by FAO (2011) (50 ha tractor^{- 1}); the mechanization index in Amecameca and Texcoco is 6.4 and 4.6 hp ha^-1, respectively, which indicates that there is a high level of mechanization. According to Gaytán (2007), the level recommended is 1 hp ha^-1. It was detected that the level of knowledge to operate agricultural equipment efficiently was deficient; 75.2 % of the users of agricultural machinery said they had not been trained at the moment of acquiring the new equipment, while 24.8% had received general training at the time of acquiring their machine. The knowledge they have has been obtained throughout time through trial and error, or as knowledge transferred by family members, workmates or neighbors.

Keywords : agricultural tools; mechanization index; agricultural tractors.

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