Participatory Corn Breeding: A Farmer Field School Guide to Seed Conservation and Management

Participatory Corn Breeding: A Farmer Field School Guide to Seed Conservation and Management is an instructional manual that integrates the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach into participatory corn breeding to strengthen and diversify community-based corn seed systems. By empowering smallholder farmers as active seed producers, breeders, and custodians of plant genetic resources, the manual promotes sustainable, agroecological farming systems while contributing to long-term food and seed security.

Developed by the Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE), this manual advocates for strengthening farmers' capacities through experiential learning and participatory approaches to corn breeding. It provides practical guidance for farmer trainers, researchers, extension workers, and community organizations on the principles, methods, and field-based practices of participatory corn breeding. Through this resource, SEARICE aims to support farming communities in developing locally adapted corn varieties and recognizing farmers' role in agrobiodiversity conservation.