This contribution to the proceedings of the Agricultural Section of the Society is intended: —

• (a) To describe a problem in agricultural logistics which when solved should help developing countries in Asia to increase their food production, especially of rice.

• (b) To suggest that the problem could be solved from the air.

• (c) To offer some layman’s suggestions as to methods by which aircraft and associated installations might be designed and organised to meet the special situation to be found in Asia. From professional advice on these suggestions it is hoped that a workable plan may be devised, and the necessary finance provided from Government or commercial sources to carry out the necessary research and development.

• (d) If a workable plan can be devised it is hoped that one or more of the countries which might benefit would wish to accept any assistance offered and to co-operate in the arrangements necessary.

• (e) While the observations in this paper are believed to be generally applicable to the flat rice-growing monsoonal areas of Asia the ideas have been derived from working experience (for three years) in only two of these countries: Burma and E. Pakistan.