In this, the second of two review papers, we discuss potential management strategies for the soil pest problems encountered by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, and analyse the potential role for IPM in smallholder agriculture. Adopting a farming systems approach is seen as essential, given the resource constraints on smallholders: this ensures that adequate attention is given to both the agronomic and socio-economic characteristics of different farming systems. The challenges of providing recommendations for managing a range of pests in complex cropping systems are identified together with objectives for future research into soil pest problems of smallholder farmers.