This technology should be superior to the primitive forms of the past, yet it should be simpler, cheaper and all but independent of the energy requirements of the rich. The emphasises on self-reliance and local production for local needs is an important step. At the same time, the lack of a well developed infrastructure and the shortage of highly trained manpower to efficiently run large industrial organisations becomes much less important when production is decentralised. But it is scattered, inaccessible to those in need, when it is most needed. Appropriate Technology Journal, 1976.
Today there is in existence a mass of tested technology for the small- scale peasant farmer.
This represents an important resource of human knowledge. The farm technology itself is laden with opportunities for improving the returns of land, water, labour and other crucial resources. The careful farmer, with help, can have many options. Many of the people in urban areas fled the stifling lack of opportunities that tend to characterise rural areas. Thus successful rural appropriate technologies might concern some substantial portion of the population.