The Status and Growth Potentials of the the Department of Agricultures's Agri-Pinoy Urban Agriculture Program: Analysis of Seven Communal Gardens in Metro Manila

Date

5-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Faustino Q. Arrienda II

Committee Member

Nohreen Ethel P. Manipol, Gemma U. Reyes, Agnes T. Banzon, Dinah Pura T. Depositario

Abstract

According to the Memorandum Order related to the guidelines on the implementation of Agri-Pinoy Urban Agriculture Program in the National Capital Region, the consistent goal of the Department of Agriculture is to attain food self-reliance and self-sufficiency by enhancing the capability of Filipinos to produce their own food via different means of vegetable and other alternative staple crop production. The program defined the National Capital Region as their pilot site because it is the largest urban center in the country. Communal gardens were established in 30 congressional districts from April 2012 to December 2013. Their strategies for implementation focused on providing trainings for their beneficiaries; and to establish and improve new or existing communal gardens. Their goal was to establish one communal garden per district.

This study was conducted to assess the status and growth potential of established communal gardens of the Department of Agriculture’s Agri-Pinoy Urban Agriculture Program in selected municipalities in Metro Manila. Moreover, the specific objectives were: (a) to present the current status of the Urban Agriculture Program in the Philippines; (b) to describe and assess the status of the communal gardens in selected cities in Metro Manila by describing its production, marketing operations, profitability, and socio-economic benefits around the community; (c) to determine the issues and challenges faced by the key players in urban agriculture; (d) to present the interventions of the Department of Agriculture and the Congressional District to the communal gardens; and (e) to formulate recommendations for current and potential practitioners of urban farming as well as the coordinators of the Urban Agriculture Program. Primary data were gathered through face-to-face and phone interviews with the key personnel of seven communal gardens in selected cities in Metro Manila. The gardens interviewed were specifically located at Quezon City, Marikina, Las Piñas, Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela, and Muntinlupa. These gardens were supported by the Department of Agriculture and their Congressional Districts for their sustainability. Comparative analysis was used to assess the production, marketing, and socio-economic aspects of the seven communal gardens. Proforma income statement was used to assess the profitability of each garden.

The common challenges for urban farming practice are the urban zoning policies by the government, presence of pests and weeds, limited available land space, lack of water supply, natural catastrophe, improper usage of wastewater, urban pollution, insufficient source of revolving funds and expensive cost of adapting modern farming technology. The growth potentials of the urban communal gardens are huge in terms of production practices and marketing strategies. Almost all farms visited could be a potential vegetable producer in their localities. Due to rapid migration from rural areas, urban population rapidly increases, thus increasing the demand for more sustainable and fresher food supply. These communal gardens play a significant role in providing the necessary amount of vegetables to these increasing consumers. Aside from their immediate environment, the gardens should consider marketing their produce in specialized markets like small businesses, restaurants, and nearby dry markets. Since the production costs of producing vegetables for urban gardens are cheap, they could sell their produce lower than the existing market prices. Discounted prices can serve as their competitive edge to other vegetable producers. The opportunities that an individual can look at to venture into urban farming are: (1) rapid increase of urban population; (2) available urban farming technologies such as simplified hydroponics and greenhouses; (3) presence of urban underutilized vacant lots; and (4) proliferation of different public and private organizations supporting the urban agriculture and implemented programs which help sustain urban farming practice like the Urban Agriculture Program.

Language

English

LC Subject

Urban agriculture, Commons

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2016 M17 A25

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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