Regenerating Agriculture: The Agroecology of Low-External Input and Community-Based Development

By building upon farmers traditional knowledge and maximizing renewable resources internal to the farm agricultural systems characterized by low external inputs can raise yield by 50% or more. Low-external input technologies are available which are capable of permanently improving agricultural production. Further highly effective and sustainable solutions may be produced by selecting elements appropriate to local livelihoods. Previous efforts have remained primarily on a small scale but successes could be more broadly replicated and enjoyed were governments to provide appropriate institutional and legal frameworks and economic incentives.