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This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of technological knowledge (acquired in Farmer Field Schools) on the availability of food for poor indigenous farmers, who are mainly dedicated to the production of maize for home consumption in the Cuicateca regi6n, Oaxaca, Mexico. The variables analyzed were 1) Level of technological knowledge, 2) maize yield, and 3) time that the last maize harvest supplied the food needs of the farmers in question (a proxy indicator of food availability). A random sample of 36 participants in the rural training schools and a control group of the same size were given questionnaires at the beginning and end of their study. The statistical analysis was done using the Pearson chi-2 contrast test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. After finding that there was no normal distribution, the Wilcoxon test to contrast paired data was used, and finally, correlations were obtained. It was found that the increase in technological knowledge of 7.29 +/- 1.01 to 46.64 +/- 18.40 did not correlate (Por = 0.05) with the time that the last maize harvest lasted in providing food. The results show that the increase in technological knowledge does not increase availability of maize as food.

La investigación tuvo por objetivo evaluar el impacto del conocimiento tecnológico, obtenido mediante Escuelas de campo, sobre la disponibilidad alimentaria de campesinos indígenas pobres dedicados principalmente a la producción de maíz para autoconsumo en la región Cuicateca de Oaxaca, México. Las variables analizadas fueron: 1) Nivel de conocimiento tecnológico; 2) Rendimientos de Maíz y 3) Tiempo en que la última cosecha, de maíz, abastece las necesidades alimenticias de los campesinos referidos (un indicador proxi de disponibilidad alimentaria). A una muestra aleatoria de 36 participantes en Escuelas de campo y un grupo testigo de igual tamaño se aplicaron cuestionarios al inicio y final del estudio. El análisis estadístico se realizó con las pruebas de contraste x2 de Pearson así como la de Kolmogorov-Smirnov y en virtud de no haberse comprobado una distribución normal, se aplicó la prueba de Wilcoxon para contrastar datos pareados, y finalmente se obtuvieron correlaciones. Se encontró que el aumento en el Nivel de conocimiento tecnológico de 7.29±1.01 a 46.64±18.40 no presenta correlación (P>0.05) con el tiempo en que la última cosecha, de maíz, abastece las necesidades alimenticias. Los resultados muestran que el incremento en el nivel de conocimiento tecnológico no aumenta la disponibilidad alimentaria de maíz. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of technological knowledge (acquired in Farmer Field Schools) on the availability of food for poor indigenous farmers, who are mainly dedicated to the production of maize for home consumption in the Cuicateca región, Oaxaca, Mexico. The variables analyzed were 1) Level of technological knowledge, 2) maize yield, and 3) time that the last maize harvest supplied the food needs of the farmers in question (a proxy indicator of food availability). A random sample of 36 participants in the rural training schools and a control group of the same size were given questionnaires at the beginning and end of their study. The statistical analysis was done using the Pearson x2 contrast test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. After finding that there was no normal distribution, the Wilcoxon test to contrast paired data was used, and finally, correlations were obtained. It was found that the increase in technological knowledge of 7.29±1.01 to 46.64±18.40 did not correlate (P>0.05) with the time that the last maize harvest lasted in providing food. The results show that the increase in technological knowledge does not increase availability of maize as food.