Dynamics of innovation in greenhouse tomato production in Amacuitlapilco, Jonacatepec, Morelos

The profitability in the greenhouse tomato production in Amacuitlapilco, Jonacatepec, Morelos is low, thus research was performed on the dynamics of innovation in their cropping systems. Farmers were surveyed and a catalogue with thirty innovations classified into eight categories was used. With this information, the farmer profile, his activity dynamics, and his social networks were characterized. The tomato production is 97% complemented with other crops, its average cropping area is 940 m2; the average yield is 19.0 kg·m-2. Only one third out of the total farmers considered in the survey had an innovation adoption index (InAI) higher than or equal to the average (InAI = 0.34). Categories with lower innovation adoption are plant nutrition, organization, and business administration. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.77) between expertise in the cropping system and the InAI. Farmers with higher InAI obtained higher yields and less variables. The technical information network showed no pair-consulting among farmers, but they are consulting the input suppliers instead. These results might help the integration of intervention strategies to improve the tomato crop profitability by transferring innovations.