Symptoms of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases can be confusing even for trained experts to identify, and may occur in
mixtures, further confounding correct identification. This study could have been stronger if it had been combined with a diagnostic survey to more accurately determine the incidence and severity of the different pests and diseases and to estimate the actual losses caused. Knowledge discrepancies thus could have been recognized more precisely. Nevertheless, it is important to know farmers' perceptions of pest problems and losses because these beliefs
shape practices. Our study showed that current practices to manage virus diseases are largely ineffective and probably unsustainable. Better practices are already available, but farmers will not use them unless they have a better understanding of the problems they are
facing.