Small-scale oil expelling is a natural component of agricultural systems in the poorer African and Asian countries. This paper relates to the work of the Natural Resources Institute and the assistance it has given to the installation and operation of small-scale oilseed expellers in a number of countries including Zambia, Gambia and Sudan. A concept of integrated agricultural development is outlined comprising oilseed cultivation, small-scale expelling and poultry production. Consideration is given to differences in nutritive value of the oilseed meals produced, oilseed processing technology and the need for interdisciplinary research, coupled with co-ordinated strategies, in order to maximize the impact on farming communities which have desperately few resources.
