FIELD PROGRAMS


Three field projects, involving resident U.S. technicians, are cur-
rently operated under the AID/DWRC program. These are located in the
Philippines, the Sudan, and Bangladesh. The objectives of these field
projects and activities undertaken during the year toward achievement
of these objectives are summarized below.

 BANGLADESH

The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council of the Government of
Bangladesh requested assistance from the AID Mission in Dacca in
assessing the status of rodent research and control programs in the
country and to determine the type of program necessary to address the
problem. AID/Dacca, in turn, sought assistance from the DWRC in
accomplishing this review and formulating an appropriate response.

The review led to a proposed amendment of the existing AID Agricul-
tural Research Project for Bangladesh to include a vertebrate pest
component. The purpose of the proposed 5-year project is to establish
an ongoing research capability to adapt and/or develop vertebrate pest
management techniques suited to the needs of small farmers. Because
of its geographical limitations, Bangladesh must plan its economic
development almost exclusively around agriculture; hence, the impor-
tance of vertebrate pest control takes on even greater significance.
The proposal was favorably received and the project became reality in
November 1978. Laboratory facilities are presently under construction
at Joydebpur, 20 miles north of Dacca. This facility will contain
office space, animal rooms, and laboratory facilities. Mr. Richard M.
Pochg, the DWRC representative, is working with four Bangladeshi
counterparts.

Vertebrate pest survey

Vertebrate pests (especially rodents) are a recognized menace to agri-
cultural crops in Bangladesh but no systematic nor reliable documenta-
tion as to the extent of losses incurred is available. Therefore, one
of the first priorities of the project is to develop an effective
means of assessing damage, identifying species involved, and evalu-
ating the economic impact. To this end, a nationwide survey of verte-
brate pest problems was initiated in late 1978. Since the staple food
grain is rice, this initial survey will focus primarily on vertebrate
pest problems in rice and similar grain crops and will involve inter-
views with 1,000 farmers throughout the 20 districts of Bangladesh.
Rice is harvested in three seasons: aman (rain-fed, harvested