Report on a visit to Bangladesh to supervise the research students undertaking the research project entitled: Improvements in the production of livestock products in peri-urban areas of cities in Asia

Abstract

D Silverside, J Sherington and N Marsland visited Bangladesh to clean and analyse data collected by research workers during a survey of approximately 100 villages in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Pabna. They assisted with the completion of the first phase of the project, which is to define the urban, peri-urban and rural areas of three study towns. Terms of reference also included the establishment of a work programme for phase 2 and the monitoring of the progress of the research workers. Phase 1 is now complete. The mauzas (small study areas of the towns) have now been defined according to a statistical technique based on census and primary data and may be classified as rural, peri-urban and urban. Phase 1 may now be written up by the researchers into a formal part for their PhD theses. A summary can be found in Appendix 3 of this report. Protocols for Phase 2 have now been established and both questionnaires and checklists of questions have been finalised. These can be found in the Appendix 4 of this report. To conduct the work, enumerators will be required. Their numbers have been established and provision made for them in the budget. A system of data handling has been set up. The researchers have been trained in preparation of forms in Access and this, combined with earlier work on the computers will enable them to enter, manipulate and print out data for the project using up-to-date software packages. Para 25 refers. It was agreed that the researchers will be supervised on a regular basis by their BAU professors. During these supervisory sessions, researchers and professors will discuss project activities, outputs and problems. Communicate by Email with NRI in UK will take place every two weeks. Para 11 refers. A work programme and schedule was left in Bangladesh to be completed before the next NRI team visit. This will take place in October/November 1997. The team will include a socio-economist and computer modeller. Para 27 refers