The status and growth potentials of the Department of Agriculture'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

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 reliance and self-sufficiency by enhancing the capability of Filipinos to produce their own food via different means of vegetables and other alternative staple crop production. The program defined the National Capita 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 established and improved new or existing communal gardens. Their goal was to establish one communal garden per district. The study was conducted to assess the status and growth potential of established communal gardens of the Department of Agriculture?s Agri-Pinoy Urnban Agriculture Program selected in 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 access 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, 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 pest and weeds, limited available land space, lack of water supply , natural caltastrope, improper usage of waste water, 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 marketing strategies. Almost all farmer 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 sustainable and fresher food supply. The communal gardens play a significant role in providing the necessary amount of vegetables tit e increasing consumers. Aside from their immediate e environment, the gardens should consider marketing their produce in specialized markets like small businesses, restaurants, and nearby dry markets. Since the production cost 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 greenhouse (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

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2016 M17 /A25

Document Type

Thesis

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