Plant protection plays an important role in the production of food crops in the sub-Saharan region of Africa where the crops are grown under several cropping systems but yields are quite low. This is attributed to institutional, technological, socio-economic and political factors. Droughts and attack by insects, plant diseases, weeds and birds are common. In order to make plant protection more efficient and farm-oriented, the constraints and possible improvements to present extension programmes are briefly described. Extension-related administration and training are also considered.
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