ABSTRACT
SOURCES OF COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE IN SMALL FARMERS OF THE PROVINCE OF VALDIVIA, CHILE

Carlos A. Amtmann1 y Alex Barril G.2
 

Through a social survey of 91 small farmers in the province of Valdivia, Chile, the knowledge of seven techniques and the inforrnation sources used is analysed. About 25% of producers ignores sorne technique and 7% ignores three or more of them. The association between the technological knowledge and some socioeconomic characteristics is pointed out.
It wasfound that the extension services are the most important information source together with pro,fessionals and local interpersonal wntacts.
The eventual roles of mass media communication channels, opinion leadership and technical assistance services in the agricultural technical diffusion is discussed.

Keywords:
1Méd. Vet. Profesor de Sociología Rural, Departamento de Sociología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile.
2Méd. Vet. COPRINSEM, Valdivia.