The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said it has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to grant green thumbs or “plantitos and plantitas” urban farming certification.
This came after the two agencies signed a five-year memorandum of agreement (MOA) to institutionalize urban and peri-urban farming as a technical vocation on Aug. 5.
In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move seeks to further enhance Filipinos’ “unique instincts” with proper knowledge, skills, and opportunities.
“I have always believed that Filipinos have a special gift,” he said, citing the rise among hobbyists with a “green thumb” since the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Give us a small patch of land, a rooftop, a balcony or even a few recycled containers, and before long, someone has turned them into a thriving garden,” he added.
In particular, the partnership establishes the Urban Agriculture Production NC II as part of the technical and vocational education system, providing “plantitos and plantitas” with opportunities for skills training, certification and career pathways.
This means they can be certified urban agriculture practitioners, trainers, assessors and even agricultural educators, upon completion of the program.
There will also be national competency standards, training regulations, curricula and assessment tools.
For his part, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez underscored the importance of boosting the agriculture industry as it helps drive the country’s economic growth.
“TESDA has always invested in agriculture, as it’s among the top five sectors where we allocate the most scholarships,” he said.
“Skills for agriculture is a win in many ways: nagbibigay tayo ng Training to Trabaho, at tumutulong tayo para sa (we are providing training and jobs, and we are helping advance) food security.”
Besides the new program certification, the two government agencies will also convert the TESDA Complex into a flagship Urban Agriculture Technology Demonstration and Training Center in Taguig.
Additional learning hubs, likewise, will be set up in TESDA regional training centers, DA facilities and selected urban farming sites.
Modern and innovative methods in urban agriculture will also be covered, including hydroponics, vertical farming, protected cultivation, container gardening, composting and other climate-smart production systems.
“Through this collaboration with DA, we further strengthen TESDA’s services that will empower Filipinos to get into urban farming, create livelihood out of it, and ultimately contribute to the economy,” Benitez said.
Overall, the partnership seeks to integrate food safety, biosafety, phytosanitary standards and good agricultural practices.
It also aims to provide TESDA-certified graduates with an advantage for establishing microenterprises, opportunities to be trainers, or secure employment in agriculture-related fields. (PNA)
