In the Eduardo Mondlane irrigation scheme in Chokwe, southern Mozambique, land had been allocated in 1983 to approximately 12000 farmers for growing rice (85%) and maize (15%). From the onset, maize production in the warm season was severely constrained by a number of pathogens and pests. During 1984–1988 a study on downy mildew, maize streak virus, stemborers and rodents, was carried out. This resulted in the formulation of a package of recommendations along lines of integrated pest and disease management, which was subsequently disseminated to farmers by the extension service. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of technology transfer, farmers were interviewed just before the new recommendations were disseminated (1988) and again two years after the start of the training and extension programme. Severe constraints in technology transfer to farmers were encountered due to the poor functioning of the extension service. It is concluded that improvements in communication and feedback mechanisms between farmers, extensionists and researchers and substitution of the prevailing ‘top-down’ training and extension methods by a ‘bottom-up’ approach are needed. In addition, rehabilitation and proper maintenance of the irrigation system and better land allocation to smallholders is required before research recommendations can be expected to work.

Data is provided on available short courses in plant protection and on FAO's training activities. FAO's findings on training needs of manpower for agriculture and rural development in Africa are briefly discussed. The need for a national plan for plant protection which can be implemented gradually is stressed. Such plans should be the basis for identifying realistic training needs. Regional co-operation for providing post-graduate training in plant protection is required. Training is especially needed in developing and in introducing safe, economic and effective plant protection measures at farm level. To achieve this, a multi-disciplinary approach is required and relevant training should be given to administrators, researchers, extension personnel and farmers. Of the various subject matters of entomology, in particular, more training is needed in biological control, being one of the cornerstones of the IPM strategy.

Risk minimization is a main objective for the farmer in the Sahel, as the probability of insufficient and erratic rainfall is high. Considering the precarious situation of the Sahelian farmer, any development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) should be based on traditional farming systems. The need is emphasized for training of personnel dealing directly with farmers. Pesticide use is common in the Sahel and these chemicals are often available free of charge. Therefore, considerable attention should be given to training of personnel of crop protection services, in management of pesticides and environmental toxicology. The research institutes, crop protection services, extension services, and the training centres are all in need of personnel with higher, middle and lower levels of training and have great difficulty in satisfying these needs. In national agricultural schools and universities the development of adequate and locally applicable curricula should be stressed, that includes crop protection; lecturers should be trained for this purpose. Regional training centres may have an important function in providing high standard training at different levels, and in generating IPM information. In the Sahel, the regional training centre for crop protection is based in Niger as an integral part of a large crop protection programme of CILSS (Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel). The activities planned for the near future are described.