This handbook covers a range of issues relating to local seed supply systems, including participatory plant breeding, and both technical and practical information on seed production and variety maintenance. It suggests approaches and methods to support on-farm seed production by small-scale farmers in developing countries.;The first part of the book describes the functioning of local seed systems and discusses their strengths, limitations and possibilities for improvement. The editors discuss issues of genetic diversity and "in situ" conservation, farmers' rights and legislation. The cases presented illustrate the functioning of local seed systems and experiences with improving them.;The second part contains technical information on seed production, selection, storage and distribution, and varietal maintenance and improvement of different groups of important food crops, which can be applied and implemented at the level of small-scale farming.; The third part contains practical guidelines about how researchers and agriculturalists might carry out surveys to investigate local seed systems and their limitations, and how they can involve interested farmers in practical experimentation t