ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book suggests a complementary approach, favored by many environmentalists reducing the costs of agriculture in the tropics. It describes environment to mean the aggregate of natural physical and biological conditions that are subject to human alteration. The book discusses many of the significant and disturbing trends that have developed in tropical agriculture. It deals with only some of many technical aspects which should be considered in any agricultural project design. In all agricultural areas, soil erosion and expanded human habitation also continue to reduce the productivity and availability of the land. Throughout the world in the future, conventional agriculture will be forced by changing conditions to become more natural resource efficient, or frugal and conserving. Developing countries have shown increased awareness of the need to manage and sustain the renewable natural resources upon which their agricultural economies depend.
