This section is involved in research work on basic and practical aspects of disease control. Priority is given to the most important diseases: Coffee Berry Disease (Collectrochicum Kahawae); Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and Bacterial Blight of Coffee (Pseudonomous syringae pv garcae).
Attention is alos given to other coffee diseases which are either of sporadic occurrence or are limited to some areas e.g. Furasium Bark disease (Fusarium stilboides) and Fusarium root disease (F. solani).

The research activities include;

• Diagnosis of diseased samples originating from growers to confirm the cause of disease and recommended control measures
• Studies in the epidemiology of coffee diseases leading to development of effective chemical spray programmes.
• Laboratory screening for biological activity of new chemicals, field evaluation and subsequent recommendation of effective chemicals to growers to confirm the cause of disease and recommended control measures.
• Studies in the epidemiology of coffee diseases leading to development of effective chemical spray programme.
• Laboratory screening for biological activity of new chemicals, field evaluation and subsequent recommendation of effective chemicals to growers through Technical Circulars which specify the name of chemical., rate, frequency and timing of application.
• Testing of spray machinery for specific physical attributes which facilitate good coverage, penetration and re-distribution of chemicals in coffee trees.
• Investigation into biological and cultural methods of disease control .
• Studies on field and post - harvest fungal spoilage of coffee beans.
• Developing screening methods for resistance to coffee diseases and long term collaboration in the use of these methods to screen gemplasm in the coffee breeding programme.
• Studies of resistance mechanisms in coffee cultivars and identification of physiological races , pathovars (Pv) and strains of coffee pathogens