The tour was conducted between October 14-25, 1996. The monitoring team comprised nine scientists from the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Togo and WARDA (West Africa Rice Development Association). The team visited farmers' fields and major locations where rice research and production work are conducted in Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Researchers, extension personnel and farmers were met and views were exchanged on issues related to the following terms of objectives of the mission : to describe the rice growing environments and review current status and problems of rice research and cultivation in Guinea and Guinea Bissau; to evaluate performance of entries in various Task Force, INGER and other national trials; to meet with and exchange views with farmers, extension works, and those involved in rice research and training in Guinea and Guinea Bissau; to identify new areas for collaboration with researchers in Guinea and Guinea Bissau.