Technological model for improving the management and yield of rainfed maize in Cohetzala-puebla-Mexico

This work presents a methodology for executing a technological intervention model that improves the management of maize and its yield per hectare. In order to meet the aforesaid goals, 60 maize growers were surveyed; the use of exotechnologies and endotechnologies was assessed through the calculation of the modern technology appropriation index (IATM, by its acronym in Spanish) and the rural technologies use degree (GETC, by its acronym in Spanish); and the growers were classified into low, medium and high efficiency categories in accordance with their IATM and GETC. The results showed that, the IATM was low and the GETC high; that growers used both types of technologies; and that there is not a direct relation between the IATM and the maize yield, although the yield and the GETC are in fact related. Finally, the maize growers were classified in accordance with their unitary yield and the most efficient maize management technological package used by the producers was identified. Such package is considered as the technological model, through which the low-efficiency and medium-efficiency growers can increase their yields to 91 and 24%, respectively.