Planning the field Collection: For planning of collection, a critical review of past collection activities was made to know where genetic diversity exists or where rice varieties had performed very well. For this purpose, examination of old records of different stations and communications with rice workers were made.
Appropriate time to conduct the collection: The appropriate time for field collection is the grain ripening period. In Bangladesh rain always-making collection work difficult especially in Aus and Boro seasons. Therefore, the sampling job was extended over two or more seasons and even from farmer’s storage bin or local market.
Personnel: A team was consisted with one rice worker who knew varietal types, soil types, diseases and insects, and the general environment (climate) in the area. He was assisted by a field assistant and a driver, one of whom was familiar with the dialect, local administration and general conditions of the area. However, the leader could be a botanist, a breeder, an agronomist, or an extension specialist trained for the assignment.
Sampling: How many samples to be collected primarily depend upon the varietal diversity in the area and from the information of previous collections. Vigorous efforts were given to collect primitive varieties grown in different farmers planting method, endemic pest infested areas, less traveled or previously uncollected areas. For each variety randomly collected from field, sample not less than 100 g seed or 30-40 well filled panicles was taken. But a larger sample (about 400 g) was taken when collected from farmer’s storage bin/local market.
Field records/Passport Data: Field records was kept which included essential items such as district name/code, sample (or collection) number, date, variety name, farmer’s name, location of the field/nearest local description, type of variety (maturity group, grain class etc.).
Equipment: The general requirements that kept were-a motor vehicle with four-wheel drive, record forms, seed envelopes, cloth bags, tags, writing pens, stapling machine and stapling wires, and other supplies, chemicals, insecticide and drying agent, papers like official letters, printed stationery, identification cards, maps, and charts. Moreover, medicines, drinking water, food supplies, and camping equipment were also included.
Communication with local officials: The team leader was officially communicated with the local officials and asked them to supply information on communication facilities, the approximate harvesting period, climatic conditions, extent of varietal diversity, local customs, working map and local assistance available. For this, a questionnaire containing all pertinent items and information that needed was mailed well ahead.
Handling of collected samples: The intact panicles were collected and dried up them or even threshed seeds as much as possible in the sun or by drying agent like silica gel.