SIZE OF CORN (Zea mays L.) PRODUCTION UNITS: A CHALLENGE TO RAISE THE UTILIZATION RATE OF SEED IMPROVED

An objective of the Sustainable Modernization Program of Traditional Agriculture (MasAgro) is the increase of corn (Zea mays L.) production through improved agronomical practices and the use of high yield improved Seed. To quantify the relationship between the size of the corn production units (PU) and the utilization rate of improved seed (TUM), a model of simultaneous equations was constructed integrated by equations that relate production, yield, utilization rates of improved and landrace seed, and the income per hectare in eight production regions of Mexico. Analysis of results indicate a positive relationship between the size of the PU and the TUM. In the Northeast and West of Mexico, regions with the highest average yield (8.9 and 4.3 t ha(-1)), the size of the PU required for a TUM of 100 % would be 12.4 and 8.7 ha. In the Yucatan Peninsula and Northern part of the country, regions with the lowest average yield (1.3 and 2.2 t ha(-1)), the size required to reduce the utilization rate of native seed to zero is more than 30 ha. The increase in size of the PU is a challenge of MasAgro.