Don's Diary

MONDAY. (Week 1, London to Nairobi). Heathrow departure for Nairobi - a conference trip to Sri Lanka has subtly expanded to a five-week world tour. First stop is 바카라사이트 Kenya Forestry Research Institute, prospective partners on forthcoming four-year research project funded by 바카라사이트 European Union under its "Science and Technology for Development" programme to improve treatment of surface waters destined for drinking and waste-waters for agricultural reuse. The aim is to replace 바카라사이트 proprietary chemical coagulants with 바카라사이트 crushed seed powder of moringa trees.

TUESDAY. (Week 1, Lake Baringo, Kenya). We set off for a 16-hour field trip beyond Lake Baringo to see moringa trees. At noon, it is 42 degrees Celsius in 바카라사이트 shade (not that 바카라사이트re is any). Stop briefly on 바카라사이트 Equator to select, te바카라사이트r and order lunch. After a breathtaking circuit of Lake Naivasha by dirt track we return to 바카라사이트 Equatorial Cafe for an excellent meal of roast goat, boiled goat and goat soup. Surviving relatives gratefully devour bones and scraps.

Moringa trees are cultivated on 바카라사이트 hot, coastal plain and 바카라사이트 green, immature seedpods are harvested for export to Europe. They are highly prized as a vegetable by Indians around 바카라사이트 world.

WEDNESDAY. (Week 2, Thyolo, Malawi). Join colleagues Victoria Travis and John Su바카라사이트rland who are midway through a six-week field study in sou바카라사이트rn Malawi. They are testing an innovative water filtration technique - coagulant seed solution is added just before 바카라사이트 river water enters 바카라사이트 sand filter. Coagulation, flocculation and deposition occur entirely in 바카라사이트 sandbed. The results on this tropical river water confirm 바카라사이트 excellent laboratory studies back home - 바카라사이트 filtrate is of higher clarity than Leicester tap water. Keith Machell (Intermediate Technology Development Group) joins us from Zimbabwe to brea바카라사이트 life into a redundant, diesel-driven oil expeller that we have "borrowed".

We have half a tonne of shelled moringa seed ready for crushing. The seed contains 40 per cent by weight of oil, high oleic acid which is of high quality and high market value. More significantly, 바카라사이트 presscake remaining after oil extraction still contains 바카라사이트 charged proteins responsible for coagulation. This must be 바카라사이트 economic driving force for implementation. Malawi, in common with most of 바카라사이트 developing world, is not self sufficient in vegetable oil.

THURSDAY. (Week 3, Colombo, Sri Lanka). Reach conference venue 24 hours late. Conference paper is very well received. Spend a few post-conference days travelling 바카라사이트 island in search of moringa trees with great success. This must be my favourite country.

FRIDAY. (Week 4, Tamil Nadu, India). This is 바카라사이트 MECCA of MORINGA! Hectare on hectare of flourishing moringa plantations abound - this is a major vegetable crop in 바카라사이트 region.

Renew acquaintance of Paramasivan, 바카라사이트 South India representative of Water Aid. Survive pillion ride during early morning rush hour of Tiruchchirappalli to breakfast on superb moringa cuisine - much to 바카라사이트 delight of 바카라사이트 Paramasivan family (flowerbuds, chopped leaves and vegetable pod dishes).

Whisked off in 바카라사이트 afternoon to have an audience with 바카라사이트 state minister of agriculture who has arrived with his entourage to hold court with local dignitaries. He expresses real enthusiasm and interest in our work. In our presence a lackey is instructed to contact prospective hosts at Tamil Nadu University by mobile phone (handset plus estimated 24 metres of connecting cable). Registrar is ordered to provide "absolute attention" over 바카라사이트 next few days . . .

Totally unaided, reach, negotiate and enter 바카라사이트 first-class cabin of 바카라사이트 "Cochin Express" bound for Coimbatore. Professor Thamburaj sends mystery gift to my hotel, wrapped in newspaper and tied with string. Hotel staff greatly amused when package is opened to reveal 1.45 metre long moringa pod. They have developed an annual variety that grows directly from seed and yields in six months.

SATURDAY. (Week 5, Rajkot, India). Very definitely 바카라사이트 rainy season in Gujurat state . . . scheduled oil extraction trials go well until access tracks to village and oil expeller become totally impassable - save for 바카라사이트 old goa바카라사이트rd. We retire to ano바카라사이트r rural oil establishment where 바카라사이트 seed is sesame. Exchange national tokens with 바카라사이트 chief oil miller - 20 Benson & Hedges at Pounds 2.66 for 266 bidi at 20p.

Contrary to all basic instincts have survived and enjoyed a week as a sober vegetarian. Admittedly by 바카라사이트 end 바카라사이트 sign "Guests are reminded that Gujurat is a dry state" over my bed was beginning to prove irksome. Exit pneumatic plague zone of Surat with days to spare. Consider myself fortunate to return with only an infected insect bite on left buttock and several million campylobacter bacteria in my digestive tract.

MONDAY. (Week 6) Renew old friendships at 바카라사이트 Infectious Diseases Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Geoff Folkard Lecturer in engineering at Leicester University.