2024 Regional Search for Best Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Gardens

1. COMPETITION GUIDELINES

The search is open to all established and organized urban and peri-urban agriculture gardens (urban and peri-urban garden), in the MIMAROPA region.

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.

a. 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.

b. Application Requirements

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

A. 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:

A.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)

A.2 Soilless urban agriculture

Hydroponics
Aeroponics
Urban aquaponics

Nile (grayish-black) and red tilapia farming
Catfish farming
Carp
Koi
Crab
Various ornamental fish

A.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

A.4 Mushroom Spawning and Production

Shiitake mushroom
Oyster mushroom
Milky mushroom
White button mushroom
Volvariella mushroom
Other edible mushroom species

A.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)

A.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

B. Administrative Requirements

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

B.1 Letter of Intent by the urban and peri-urban garden, noted by their head or authorized representative.

B.2 Endorsement letter from any of the PA/MA/MAO/CA/CAO, or equivalent

B.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 2023, 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 (2023-2026), 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 2023 to December 2023.
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

C. Application Procedure

C.1 Submission of Application Requirements

Interested applicants may submit their application requirements to DA-ATI Regional Training Center MIMAROPA, Brgy. Barcenaga, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro or email at iss_mimaropa@ati.da.gov.ph on or before July 5, 2024.

C.2 Selection and Evaluation Process

During the regional search, the RSeC shall use the following criteria on the evaluation of the nominated urban and peri-urban garden to determine the top-performing urban and peri-urban garden at the regional level.

Criteria for Judging for Best Urban and Peri-urban Garden (Macro and Micro gardens)

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	None
Aesthetic Value/ Creativity (10%)	Refers to the resourcefulness And overall arrangement and Dynamics of the hardscapes (infrastructure and non-plant designs) and softscapes has an extent of (plant and livestock component) of 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 Actual visitor traffic within the urban agriculture garden premises, and the Social media reach of the uploaded video documentation	Social media No. of reactions and views of their respective Audio-Visual Presentation (AVP) Number of actual visitors (shall provide actual visitor’s log)

Then, the RSeC shall use the following to determine the best implementer of the different urban and peri-urban agriculture technologies.

Criteria for Judging for Best Implementer for Different Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Technologies

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	Refers to the novelty of the prototype, including its look and function

Upon scoring, the RSeC shall shortlist up to five (5) garden sites per category, for field validation on July 8-12, 2024.

Also, the submitted 3-5 minutes audio visual presentation of the shortlisted five (5) garden sites per category will be uploaded in the official ATI-MIMAROPA Facebook page. Social Media reactions and views will be counted starting July 8, 2024 at 9:00am until July 12, 2024 at 12:00nn.

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 of the regional winners will be on July 15, 2024 while the awarding ceremony will take place on July 30, 2024.

The RStC shall endorse the regional champions per category to the NStC on or before July 24, 2024, for final national shortlisting.

2. AWARDS AND GUIDELINES

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