LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The government must expand how it evaluates and promotes corn varieties as farmer preference should carry equal weight with agronomic performance.
This was the recommendation of the latest policy brief from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) titled “Moving Beyond Yield: Institutionalizing Participatory Varietal Selection for Farmer-Preferred Maize in Laguna, Philippines,” based on field research in Victoria, Laguna conducted by Mark Anthony Parducho with support from SEARCA’s Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT).
Co-authors are Ayn Kristina Beltran and Lorna Matanguihan of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Institute of Plant Breeding.
The study examined how rice and vegetable growers in Victoria viewed corn as an option for off-season planting. Instead of testing varieties only for grain output, researchers involved farmers directly in evaluating six corn lines through participatory varietal selection trials. The assessment used a composite index that included yield, taste, texture, milling recovery, storage life, and other traits relevant to household use.
Results showed that yield was not the sole driver of farmers’ choices. LB Lagkitan, a glutinous variety with lower recorded yields, was ranked highest by participants. Farmers cited its taste, cooking qualities, cultural familiarity, and role as an alternative to expensive glutinous rice in local food products. This preference highlights how consumption patterns and market use influence adoption.
Climate adaptability also emerged as a deciding factor. During the trials, heavy rains and prolonged waterlogging forced repeated replanting. Farmers gave high marks to a waterlogging-tolerant composite variety, placing it second overall. The ranking suggests that stability under adverse weather is a priority for growers dealing with increasingly erratic conditions.
Nutritional and market potential shaped decisions as well. APN 408, a deep-orange corn variety, was favored partly because farmers linked its color to health benefits and saw opportunities for specialty products. These responses point to demand signals that are often missed in conventional variety testing focused mainly on field performance.
The research also documented the role of training. Most participants were rice farmers with limited experience in corn. Through technical briefings, lectures, and field monitoring, they developed capacity to assess agronomic traits and management requirements. The authors said that exposure and instruction can reduce barriers to diversification, particularly in communities dependent on a single crop.
For Victoria and similar areas, diversification is becoming more relevant as rainfall patterns shift and lowland flooding affects rice cultivation. The brief warned that introducing alternative crops without considering local socioeconomic context can lead to poor uptake. Matching varieties to farmer needs, environmental conditions, and market channels was also recommended.
Recommended actions
Based on the findings, the authors propose three actions for agricultural institutions.
First, municipal agriculture offices and regional research centers should make participatory varietal selection a standard step before recommending or distributing new corn lines. Evaluation criteria should include sensory attributes, culinary use, and market demand alongside productivity data.
Second, local government units, state universities, and agencies should conduct municipal-level benchmarking. Assessments would cover soil suitability, climate risks, farmer skills, and market access to guide public investment toward varieties appropriate for specific localities.
Third, the brief recommends support for capacity building and municipal demonstration farms. These sites can provide practical learning, build farmer confidence, and generate additional data on adoption rates, economic impacts, and nutrition outcomes.
The work was funded through SEARCA’s SFRT program, which provides early-stage grants to Southeast Asian researchers. Beyond financing, the program requires outputs that connect research to policy, including a policy brief and technical report.
The authors conclude that a yield-only approach to varietal promotion may limit uptake. They argue that when farmers participate in selection and receive technical support, their ability to assess new crops improves, and the resulting choices are more likely to align with household needs and market realities.
For the corn industry, the implication is that boosting production and income may depend as much on matching varieties to cultivators as on maximizing output per hectare.