Conclusions

This article has focused on the factors affecting bioconversion systems at the village level in a typical Indian community. It is fairly obvious that considerations of economy of scale and many other economic criteria that would be important in large-scale industry are irrelevant where the sole goal is to improve protein-calorie intake by a few per cent and to maintain a small, albeit significant, improvement in the quality of life. Bioconversion, in fact all rural technology, should aim only at modest targets. To do this best, the technology must be local, adaptable, and evolutionary. These three qualities do not preclude sophistication of analysis or thought.