Acceptability Index Characterization and Process for Corn Cultivars in El Salvador, Central America

Abstract

The objective of this 2007 study was to characterize the process of the acceptability index of the Oro Blanco, Platino, and Protemás corn cultivars, and also to identify social, economic, agricultural, and technological variables that could explain the causes of acceptance or rejection of technology, by producers who were beneficiaries of the 2006-2007 Program for Improvement of Basic Grain and Grass Production. This acceptability study identifies strengths and weaknesses of such technology for the stages of the transfer process. The study was conducted in 2008, in Regions I and IV of El Salvador; a survey was taken, with 133 corn producers who were beneficiaries of the 2006-2007 program for promotionof basic grain and grass production. One of the most important findings was that approximately 60% of the producers were willing to cultivate the study materials during the following agricultural cycle. These project beneficiaries were willing to sow the cultivars, called QPM, Quality Protein Maize, or in Spanish ACP for "Alta Calidad de Proteína" in 96% of areas sown with QPM, in year 2007. The Oro Blanco cv had the greatest acceptability, with an acceptability index of 82.5; Protemás scored 69.6, and Platino obtained 53.7%.