methodologies to promote the use of appropriate technologies by
farmers. For this purpose, inter-institutional linkages with the
extension agency (DIGESA) were developed, collaborative efforts were
established with cooperatives and other farmers groups, and a strong
support was given to the private sector to promote a strategy for seed
production and commercialization that was successful (Ortiz, 1980;
Castillo and Jurez, 1985). Less than ten years after ICTA was
founded, Guatemala had registered significant increases in basic grains
production that covered the deficit of previous years and have since
then, along with oilseeds (sesame), provided exportable amounts that
has improved its international exchange balance (Castillo and Jurez,
1985).


THE RESEARCH EXTENSION LINKAGE

 With the new research approach and a renewed interest in
 promoting the use of appropriate technology, ICTA and the Directorate
 of Agricultural Services (DIGESA), the extension agency, signed a letter
 of agreement in 1978 that would expedite the joint activities of those
 institutions for the purpose of technology transference.

 The most significant of these efforts in terms of success, has
 been the Courses for inter-institutional Technological Linkage that
 provided the extension agents with the opportunity to participate in
 on-farm research activities. With their involvement in the technology
 generation process, the extensionists improved their effectiveness in
 promoting the use of new technologies (Ortiz, 1980).

 But still, the degree of effectiveness in technology transference
 has not been considered adequate. technology has been reaching the
 farmers but not in the same intensity in each region or in every group.
 In spite of the inter-institutional efforts for the promotion of new
 technologies, and the evident impact of these technologies on food
 production, there remains a group of factors hindering the diffusion of
 technologies to a larger number of farmers.