Is low external input technology contributing to sustainable development?

Natural Resource Perspectives 102, november 2006

Low external input technology (LEIT) is a prominent feature of many discussions about the role of agricultural technology in rural poverty reduction. There is a widespread conviction the LEIT is more accessible to resource-poor households and can be the basis for human and social capital formation. This paper summarises a recent review of the subject, presents findings on the outcomes of LEIT, and draws more general implications for donor strategies in agricultural technology generation.