The Department is in charge of the R&D related to crop health and crop protection. Recent researches include identification and ecology of disease and insect pests of tropical fruit trees and vegetables; improvement of integrated disease and pest control measures; development of methods for rapid detection of pathogens and screening for disease resistance in vegetables. In addition, the Department conducts plant protection training programs to empower farmers on the proper control of diseases and insect pests, safe use of pesticides, and offers services for the identification of diseases and insect pests and advice on the control measures and safe crop production.
