Indigenous knowledge is what has made the agriculture sustainable in all parts of the world for many centuries. The new technologies induce an external dependency that kills the scarce resources these small farmers have.

Genetically modified seeds, use of pesticides and other chemicals surely increase the yield, however has proven to create major health hazards, not only in the consumers of these products but the farmers and other workers in the fields. That's why the ORGANIC food industry is picking-up across the world now! 

Saying so, for all those small farmers who had adopted the technologies somewhere in the past, it is definitely a hard task to get them back to their indigenous ways of farming. These indigenous ways might become extinct if the small farmers will take these new innovations up at increased speed, thus collapsing the entire sustainable system created by them among their farmer fraternity and villages and force them to expend their meagre resources to buy fancy technologies for no good in long term.

In my experience it is not so much the technology as such but the ability to comply with the requirements of a commercial environment. Level of education and individual abilities may lead to small farmer's 'excellence' together with an enabling organisational environment. The first two conditions are 'sine qua nons'.

Teun Wolters

Indigenous knowledge is what has made the agriculture sustainable in all parts of the world for many centuries. The new technologies induce an external dependency that kills the scarce resources these small farmers have.

Genetically modified seeds, use of pesticides and other chemicals surely increase the yield, however has proven to create major health hazards, not only in the consumers of these products but the farmers and other workers in the fields. That's why the ORGANIC food industry is picking-up across the world now! 

Saying so, for all those small farmers who had adopted the technologies somewhere in the past, it is definitely a hard task to get them back to their indigenous ways of farming. These indigenous ways might become extinct if the small farmers will take these new innovations up at increased speed, thus collapsing the entire sustainable system created by them among their farmer fraternity and villages and force them to expend their meagre resources to buy fancy technologies for no good in long term.

A way good way to find answers to your question yourself is to go through the literature on evolution of production systems, especially those that addressed evolution of systems in Africa. No one can a give ready answer, as there is probably  none that can be give in one word or in a few sentences.

Indeed, there is no easy answer. Western answers have 'not always' been good. The use of pesticides etc. have not led to sustainable production increases. Purely organic methods tend to increase the land under cultivation, which may lead to the (unnecessary) destruction of natural resources. Organic methods should go together with much less meat consumption. We are in need of sustainable methods which lead to an increase in productivity. This might be a mix of traditional answers and modern answers. Whether small farmers can play a relevant role in feeding the world, is an open question. Working together, understanding investment and finance, having a longer term view than usually seems to be the case and being reliable are matters of importance under all circumstances.. if it were possible to involve small-holders in feeding the world, that would be a great advantage, both from a social and an economic perspective (social inclusion, poverty abbreviation). But can it become reality?

This is a very imprtan questio for future agriculture. Sustentability will depends of reconstruction of old smallholders agricukture practices. Just the often called traditional ones. Aout this you please see

Www.histagra.usc.es

I am looking at a similar case like this were I am looking at the applicability of indigenous knowledge systems in agricultural productivity in South Africa and in Zimbabwe. Iks is the way to go each nation has its own knowledge values which people have to respect,

There is a need for knowledge sharing and enhancement. However, there is also a need for good strategies that are helpful to traditional farmers. Who are going to develop these strategies? Major issue is the degree of interdependence and self-sufficiency. Markets and logistics are endangered when there is political turmoil or climatic disruption. However, they can also be sources of extra income which improves the livelihoods of poor people strongly. Self-sufficiency can be sustainable but is in need of modern knowledge that can enhance productivity etc. In short: we need a broader view which integrates the various perspectives.

Jens Muller research on Indigenous systems of Innovation is according to my view the best approach I have seen on small farmers and SMES in Low tech Industries at Developing Countries. I will extremely recommend to you their articles.

The choice between traditional/indigenous vs modern technology is not an either or issue. Rather experience shows a combination of indigenous and modern is best suited to transform smallholders into modern science based farmers. When indigenous knowledge is given due consideration in designing new technology, potential for success in generation and adoption may be better. Two papers are attached to illustrate the argument. Hope you find them useful.