The Dairy Technology System in Venezuela. Summary of Research 79.

A study examined the agricultural technology system in Venezuela with emphasis on the dairy industry. An analytical framework was used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the following components of Venezuela's agricultural technology system: policy, technology development, technology transfer, and technology use. Selected government documents were revised, and the following individuals were interviewed: 7 national- and state-level policymakers, 22 agricultural researchers, 18 extension agents, and 33 dairy farmers. It was discovered that government expenditures on agriculture averaged 4% of the country's total expenditures during the past 10 years. Accessibility of external sources of technical dairy information to agricultural researchers was found to be low, and three-fourths of the extension personnel interviewed indicated that direct contact between public research and extension personnel occurred either never or only on an ad hoc basis. Although most farmers had knowledge of basic animal husbandry practices, those practices requiring higher input costs, modern equipment, specialized personnel/skills, and/or sophisticated management abilities were adopted less frequently. It was recommended that the government's financial commitment to the agricultural sector be increased and linkages among researchers, extension agents, and farmers be improved. (Contains 29 references.) (MN)