FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF SHADE CLOTH TECHNOLOGY IN APPLE PRODUCTION IN MEXICO

Abstract

The vulnerability of apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) yield to changes in climatic variables justifies an examination of the determining factors in producer technology adoption. The main factors are age, orchard size, temperature, and the cost of shade cloth, fertilizers, and labor. The objective of this research was to analyze the factors that influence the adoption rate of shade cloth as protection for apple crops. Municipal-level data was used to estimate a grouped logistic model with the 24 municipalities in which shade cloth was used in 2022. The dependent variable was the adoption rate of shade cloth, and the independent variables were age, farm size, shade cloth price, fertilizers, labor, and temperature. The results show that when age, farm size, and temperature increase by 10 %, the probability of using shade cloth increases by 22.6, 15.7, and 7.6 %, respectively. A 10 % increase in the prices of shade cloth, fertilizers, and labor reduced the probability of shade cloth use by 1.7, 29.8, and 27.3 %, respectively. The adoption rate of shade cloth may increase as the size of the orchard expands through the rental or purchase of land, but it decreases to a greater extent with increases in fertilizer and labor prices. Among the benefits of using shade cloth are the protection of crops from excessive radiation and temperature increases.