An all too-common misconception of Bangladesh is of a disaster-prone country staggering from one human crisis to the next. In truth one finds a country with a long and proud history going way back into time. The language and culture are sophisticated and mature, equalling anything that the much younger cultures of the western world have to offer.

My personal experience comes from two years spent as leader of a team studying the crop known as deepwater rice (the DWR, or Deepwater Rice Project). These were two happy and productive years and this website is a contribution to the knowledge of that crop and the innumerable farmers who grow and and for whom, with their families, it is a vital source of food.

Finally, I hope that my description of research into the relation between the major pest of deepwater rice - the Yellow Stem Borer - Scirpophaga incertulas - will provide an insight into the conduct of field experiments and, perhaps more importantly, the interpretation of the results. It is the latter which calls for rational and objective thinking, setting aside one's desire for conclusions which match preconceptions (the hypothesis).

The format draws on my published papers but includes considerable extra material from my notes and reports. Thus, there is more on the geography of the deepwater rice growing areas and extensive illustrations. All is accompanied with extensive illustrations from my own photographs (with just a few examples from the project resources).

Many of the illustrations are clickable for viewing in a full page format, with accompanying text (presently the site is probably best viewed in at least 1024x768 mode).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

	None of the research work would have been possible without the very generous cooperation of numerous local farmers and the support of local government officers. The then Director of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Dr S.M.H. Zaman, and others of his senior colleagues were rarely other than helpful. Within the team of the Deepwater Rice Project, I gained much early on from the knowledge of Paul Francis and my predecessor, David Catling. In relation to the studies of pests and diseases, Zahirul Islam (right) and Lutfur Rahman (left), both of whom commenced successful PhD studies under my instigation, Isabel McGeachie, Badiul Alam and Quazie Razzaque all played significant roles. There were too many support staff to thank all but they can be seen in my photographs.
	Welcome to BRRI

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The Deepwater Rice Project, was a cooperative effort between the Government of Bangladesh and the then titled "Overseas Development Administration" of the United Kingdom.

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General Background

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Useful links can be found at

Cyber_Bangladesh,

Virtual Bangladesh, and...

click for The National Anthem

©2000 - Brian Taylor CBiol FIBiol FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. Visiting Academic in the Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham Comments to dr.brian.taylor@ntlworld.com

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