Articulación de la agricultura familiar con el sistema de innovación agrícola en el altiplano mexicano

Family-operated agricultural production units represent nearly all farming operations worldwide, underscoring their social and economic significance. This study aims to analyze how and why family farming units engage with the agricultural innovation system in Mexico’s Altiplano region, characterized by rainfed cereal agriculture. Using a mixed-methods approach—including surveys, interviews, and network analysis with UCINET®—and framed within innovation systems theory with emphasis on networks and innovation adoption, the research identifies the knowledge applied by farmers in maize, barley, and wheat production. It also examines the networks they establish with other components of the innovation system. Findings reveal that farmers who form multi-family networks apply a broader range of knowledge related to sowing, post-harvest practices, planning, and joint actions, resulting in maize yields 16% higher than those of farmers working individually. For other crops, yield differences were not statistically significant. The study also found limited connections with research and development actors, increasing the vulnerability of family farming units to ongoing environmental and technological changes. These results highlight the need for public policies that strengthen interactions between family farming units and research and development stakeholders, thereby enhancing their resilience to contemporary agricultural challenges.