2025 Regional Search for Best Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Garden

2025 Regional Search for Best Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Garden

 

COMPETITION GUIDELINES

 

1. Scope

 

The search is open to all established and organized urban and peri-urban agriculture gardens (urban and peri-urban garden), in the CALABARZON region as defined in this guideline. 

The search for the best urban and peri-urban gardens will be divided into two major categories: Category A Micro-gardens Cluster which has a land area of 250 sqm or less and Category B Macro-gardens Cluster which has a land area greater than 250 sqm. 

Each interested urban and peri-urban gardens nominee shall be eligible and must comply with the technical and administrative requirements for the regional search, as stipulated in Competition Guidelines. 

The top three (3) gardens per category will receive awards. Furthermore, the Champion per category shall be endorsed and shortlisted for the National Level Competition by the Regional Steering Committee (RSTC), to the National Steering Committee (NSTC), and through the National Search Committee (NSEC). 

Special awards shall also be given to the best implementers of the different urban and peri-urban agriculture technologies.

2. Eligibility

 

The interested urban and peri-urban garden must be duly registered and valid during the evaluation period, from any of the following, but not limited to: Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), DA Accredited CSO, and ATI LSA Certification for LSAs. In the case of school-based urban and peri-urban gardens, certification from their Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) Coordinators in their respective Schools Division Office can be considered as well as any certification and accreditation from their respective LGUs.

 

3. Application Requirements

 

Requirements are categorized into technical and administrative requirements, to wit:

1. 1. Technical Requirements

Each urban and peri-urban garden shall showcase either of the following, but not limited to, urban and peri-urban agriculture technologies in their garden within the duration of the search:

1. 1. 1. Soil-based urban and peri-urban gardening
         • Conventional urban gardening
         • Container gardening
         • Vertical farming
         • Rooftop gardening
         • Raised beds
         • Edible Landscaping
         • Screen house and greenhouse farming
         • Urban floriculture (edible and ornamental)
      2. Soilless urban agriculture
         • Hydroponics
         • Aeroponics
         • Urban aquaponics
           • Nile (grayish-black) and red tilapia farming
           • Catfish farming
           • Carp
           • Koi
           • Crab
           • Various ornamental fish

3. 1. 3. Smart farming technologies
         • Indoor cultivation
         • Greenhouse automation
         • Internet of Things (IoT)
         • Smart Sensors
         • Drone Technology
         • Smart fertigation
         • Drip Irrigation system
         • Other smart farming technologies
4. Mushroom Spawning and Production
   • Shiitake mushroom
   • Oyster mushroom
   • Milky mushroom
   • White button mushroom
   • Volvariella mushroom
   • Other edible mushroom species
5. Urban livestock production technology
   • Rabbit farming
   • Chicken, Quail, duck, and other poultry farming
   • Urban apiculture (e.g. stingless bee production)
   • Other livestock production technologies permitted by their respective Local Government Unit (LGU)
6. Resource generation for urban agriculture
   • Urban and peri-urban farm nursery
   • Vegetable seed production
   • Feed formulation
   • Organically produced/natural soil ameliorants, biofertilizers, and concoctions, including vermiculture and vermicomposting

1. 2. Administrative Requirements

 

On the other hand, applicants must also submit the following administrative requirements:

1. 1. 1. Letter of Intent by the urban and peri-urban garden, noted by their head or authorized representative.
      2. Endorsement letter from any of the PA/MA/MAO/CA/CAO, or equivalent
      3. The record book to be submitted must be softbound and shall contain the following:

• • • • Profile - Name of the urban and peri-urban garden, its brief description, focal person, and contact details.
      • Production data - list of crops grown and volume of harvest (in kilograms) from January-December 2024, and area planted (in sq.m.) attested by the PA/CA/MA, or CAO/MAO, or equivalent.
      • Cost of Production - provide receipts or other equivalent proof or record of transaction
      • Sales record - provide sales entries/logs or receipts, if available
      • List of beneficiaries and the form of assistance provided, if any
      • Inventory of agricultural inputs, including but not limited to nutrient solutions, fertilizers, and pesticides
      • Urban and peri-urban agriculture technologies (as specified in the technical requirements)
      • Urban and peri-urban garden 4-Year Strategic Plan (Annex A) covering the evaluation period (2024-2027), duly signed by their head or authorized representative, and attested by their PA/CA/MA, or CAO, or equivalent.
      • Visitors log, indicating the total number of visitors from January 2024 to December 2024.
      • Training certificates of officers and members, relevant to agriculture and its allied sciences.
      • Photo documentation to support the aforementioned items.

On top of the submission of the requirements required applicants must submit an Audio-visual presentation (3 to 5 minutes long), showcasing the urban and peri-urban farms/gardens managed. The following details shall be included in the material: 

• Urban and peri-urban agriculture technologies used, practices, and activities 
• Production area, storage area, and waste management 
• Impacts of their urban and peri-urban garden 
• Sustainability Plan of their urban and peri-urban garden
  3. Application Procedure

 

1. 1. 1. Submission of Application Requirements

Interested applicants may submit their application requirements to DA-ATI Regional Training Center CALABARZON, Brgy. Lapidario, Trece Martires City Cavite or email at cdms_rtc4a@ati.da.gov.ph on or before April 21, 2025.

1. 1. 2. Selection and Evaluation Process

• During the regional search, the RSeC shall use the scorecard on the evaluation of the nominated urban and peri-urban garden (Annex B), to determine the top-performing urban and peri-urban garden at the regional level. Then, the RSeC shall use a different scorecard to determine the best implementer of the different urban and peri-urban agriculture technologies (Annex C). 
• Upon scoring, the RSeC shall shortlist up to five (5) garden sites per category, for field validation on April 28 to May 16, 2025.
• Also, the submitted 3-5 minutes long audio visual presentation of the shortlisted five (5) garden sites per category will be uploaded in the official ATICALABARZON Facebook page. Social Media reactions and views will be counted starting May 8 to May 16, 2025
• Upon validation, the RSeC shall convene and finalize the results. The results will then be endorsed to the RStC, for approval. 
• Upon approval, the RStC shall award the major and special awardees. Announcement and awarding ceremony of the regional winners will take place on May 30, 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFERMENT OF AWARDS

 

Below are the awards for the search for the best urban and peri-urban agriculture garden, respectively:

Category A. Microgardens (250 sq.m or less)

 

Regional Search for best Urban and Peri-urban Garden	Awards
	Monetary Equivalent	Non-Monetary
Champion	Php 10, 000.00	Certificates
1st Runner Up	Php 5,000.00	Certificates
2nd Runner Up	Php 3,000.00	Certificates

 

Category B. Macrogardens (greater than 250 sq.m)

 

Regional Search for best Urban and Peri-urban Garden	Awards
	Monetary Equivalent	Non-Monetary
Champion	Php 15, 000.00	Certificates
1st Runner Up	Php 10,000.00	Certificates
2nd Runner Up	Php 5,000.00	Certificates

 

There will be special awards for the best implementer of the different urban and peri-urban agriculture technologies, as categorized in the competition guidelines. Winners will also be awarded with prizes and certificates.

ANNEX A

STRATEGIC PLAN TEMPLATE

 

I	Name of urban and peri-urban garden
II	Executive Summary Sums up the major points detailed in the strategic plan
III	Description of the urban and peri-urban garden Location, Barangay, Number of Members, Urban and Peri-urban agriculture technologies showcased (emphasizing their flagship technology/ies), engagements and partnerships
IV	Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Focusing on the production system, marketing, organizational capacity, and its system (farmers’ capability, knowledge, and contribution to urban and peri-urban agriculture)
V	Vision
VI	Mission Statement
VII	Objectives
VIII	Strategies  (Practices)
IX	4 Year Physical and Financial Targets and Activities
X	Monitoring and Assessment of the urban and peri-urban garden Ensuring proper implementation of physical and financial targets
XI	Annexes (if any)

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX B

SCORECARD FOR THE 2024 NUPAP SEARCH FOR BEST URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN

 

Criterion	Description	Components
Garden Crops Production and Sales Output per unit area (20%)	Refers to the output of production of the crop component of the urban and peri-urban agriculture garden which shall both reflect in the records, and if possible in the actual visit	The volume of production per square meter
		Monetary value of production per square meter
		Cost of production per square meter
Records Management, Traceability, and Documentation (15%)	Refers to the completeness and quality of documentation Farm activities Labeling of commodities Inventory of Inputs Expenses records Sales Data List of Beneficiaries Photo Documentation	None
Good Agricultural Practices (20%)	Refers to the considerations and practices from pre- to post-harvest stages that render food safe for consumption and of high quality, environmentally sustainable, and safe to farm workers -Low risk of contamination from chemical and microbiological hazards Farmer’s hygiene and welfare Practice of Integrated Pest Management Appropriate application of agrochemicals Proper handling of produce Clean environment Proper waste management Efficient use of water
Aesthetic Value/ Creativity (10%)	Refers to the resourcefulness and overall arrangement and dynamics of the hardscapes (infrastructure and non-plant designs) and softscapes (plant and livestock component) or the urban and peri-urban agriculture garden	None
Innovation/ Technologies Showcased (15%)	Refers to the number of functional technologies featured by the urban agriculture garden during the given window period	None
Competency/Training (10%	Refers to the training acquired relevant to urban agriculture	None
Sustainability (10%)	Refers to the measures that the urban and peri-urban garden enforce to ensure that their plans are well-implemented, have long term positive contribution to themselves and their immediate community/ies, and are future-proof (in congruence with their Strategic Plan)	Future-proofing of urban and peri-urban garden
Bonus Number of Individuals Reached (3%)	Shall qualify the 1) actual visitor traffic within the urban agriculture garden premises, and the 2) Social media reach of the uploaded video documentation	Social Media Number of reactions or views of their respective Audio-Visual Presentation (AVP)
		Number of Actual Visitors (shall provide actual Visitor’s Log)

 

 

 

ANNEX C

 

NUPAP-SEARCH FOR BEST IMPLEMENTER OF URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY SCORECARD

 

Name of urban and peri-urban garden
Region
Province
Category of Technology (Soil-based urban and Peri-urban Gardening, Soilless Urban agriculture, Smart farming technologies, Mushroom spawning and Production, urban livestock production technology, Resource generation for urban agriculture)
Evaluated by

 

 

 

NUPAP-SEARCH FOR BEST IMPLEMENTER OF URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY SCORECARD

 

Criterion	Description
Functionality (40%)	Refers to the condition where the technology is in good physical state, and functions to provide maximum benefit to the urban and peri-urban garden
Aesthetic Value (30%)	Refers to the overall beauty and arrangement of the technology, as it situates itself in the garden
Innovative Quality/ Uniqueness (30%)	Refers to the novelty of the prototype, including its look and function