Host plant resistance will be the best long-term solution to the problem of virus diseases, as they will reduce yield losses even if farmers lack knowledge about the spread of plant virus diseases. Host plant resistance should be used in combination with better crop management to control the diseases, as this makes the control more effective and prolongs the period that the host-plant resistance remains effective as virus species have the potential to evolve quickly and may thus overcome host-plant resistance. Good field sanitation and vector control is therefore essential and requires much knowledge on the part of the farmer. Better farmer training in disease identification, disease epidemiology and management is needed. The very limited literature on this topic suggests this issue is not receiving the priority it deserves.