Strategies for agricultural extension have been changing in the last decade in Mexico. The Veracruz Self-Management System of Production (SIVAP) was created in 1994 under an extension privatization strategy. An evaluative study of a portion of this program showed that the strategy was not applied completely or effectively. Although farmers wanted to participate in the program, most of the traditional drawbacks, including performance of extension workers, scarce resources and lack of support to carry out extension activities, and weaknesses in leader- follower relationships, inhibited farmer participation and accomplishment of the program's goals.