Abstract

MARTINEZ-GONZALEZ, Enrique Genaro et al. The promotion of family sheep-farming in Mexico through subsidies in assets: lessons learned. Agron. Mesoam [online]. 2011, vol.22, n.2, pp.367-377. ISSN 2215-3608.

The promotion of family sheep-farming in Mexico through subsidies in assets: lessons learned. The objective of this work was to determine the impact of subsidies given in assets for the purchase of productive actives in familiar sheep production units (UPF) in the state of Mexico. A survey was carried-out among 58 sheep farmers in a population of 475 beneficiaries, from January to March of 2007. Seventeen months after subsidy release, 16% of UPF were closed, 48% were stable or growing, and 36% were contracting. Herd dynamics could be explained on the basis of previous experience of the sheep farmer, the capacity of the UPF to produce the feed required by the herd, the adoption of new innovative and good practices the production system, the network of knowledge to which the farmer belongs, the sheep quality offered by the network of livestock providers; and the conception of the activity of the producer himself, as savings or as a business. Subsidies directed to this activity did not increase productive capacity of the herds, and did not generate wealth or employment.

Keywords : Sheep; subsidies; innovation management; efficiency of public spending.

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