Linking with agricultural input suppliers for technology transfer: The adoption of vertical tillage in Bolivia

Linkages between the public sector and agricultural input suppliers for technology transfer have received little attention to date. This paper reports a case study in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where conventional tillage practices led to widespread soil compaction. Research an conservation tillage was initiated by the local agricultural research center the Centro de Investigation Agricola Tropical (CIAT) as a way of avoiding compaction. Informal linkages for technology transfer were developed between a British advisor to CIAT and the most dynamic of the companies supplying agricultural machinery This facilitated the rapid adoption of vertical tillage by farmers, although not exactly as researchers would have liked. Re the advisor withdrew the recommendations of the company and CIAT diverged showing the need to formalize linkage mechanisms. It is concluded that under the right conditions agricultural input suppliers can work with the public sector to promote new technologies.