Plant protection in Bangladesh, a multi-disciplinary study team report

EXPERTS DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER-DECEMBER, 1975. THE EVALUATION INCLUDED AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CAPABILITIES OF THE PLANT PROTECTION DIRECTORATE, AND THE GOVERNMENT"S CAPACITY TO UNDERTAKE TRAINING, CONDUCT RESEARCH, PLAN, IMPLEMENT PLANT PROTECTION PROJECTS, AND MARKET PESTICIDES. EXCERPTS FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS SECTION OF THIS REPORT: THE PLANT PROTECTION DIRECTORATE (SEVERAL AGENCIES) SHOULD BE ORGANIZED TO ACCOMPLISH ITS FUNCTIONS OF TRAINING, REGULATION, AND APPLIED RESEARCH. THE BASIS FOR PLANT PROTECTION PROGRAMS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN LAW. EFFECTIVE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS ON ALL TYPES OF PLANT PESTS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED. PESTICIDE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE EVALUATED. A LACK OF TRAINED PERSONNEL IS PERHAPS THE GREATEST PROGRAM IN PLANT PROTECTION IN BANGLADESH; TRAINING PROGRAMS DESERVE HIGH PRIORITY. THE PLANT QUARANTINE SERVICE SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED. THE AERIAL SPRAYING CAPABILITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR PEST CONTROL ONLY IN EMERGENCIES. THE PESTICIDE STANDARDIZATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE RETAINED AND STRENGTHENED. THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER SPRAYERS SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED UNTIL THE TWO-CYCLE ENGINE OIL THEY REQUIRE IS AVAILABLE. A DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO COORDINATE AND STIMULATE RESEARCH IN PLANT PROTECTION. THE UNIVERSITIES SHOULD BE MORE FULLY SUPPORTED IN THEIR PLANT PROTECTION EFFORTS. A PLANT PROTECTION SOCIETY FOR BANGLADESH SHOULD BE ORGANIZED TO GIVE SCIENTISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. SPECIALISTS IN THE PPD AND OTHER AGENCIES AND EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO REALISTIC ESTIMATES OF NEEDS.