Memorandum Circular No. 08, Series of 2020 Implementing Guidelines for the Implementation of Urban Agriculture Program.

This Memorandum Circular outlines the implementing guidelines in the implementation of Urban Agriculture as one of the modalities in making food available, accessible, affordable, safe, and providing additional income to the project beneficiaries. It is the national policy of the State to provide available, affordable, and safe food. The State also recognizes that the population is growing and this means that additional food will be needed. Food production is in the hands of the farmers and fisherfolks, and farming and fishing remain the basic source of food of the people. Food production has to be promoted, hence the Department of Agriculture implements programs that will result to Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita. Farmers or food producers are the major stakeholders of the Department of Agriculture. Urban areas have the most number of consumers and are the major market of farm and fish markets. The volume of consumption is so high that on cases of emergencies, the food demand becomes a major challenge for the policy makers and the agricultural and fisheries sector.
This program aims to produce food in the urban areas through the implementation of Urban Agriculture Program. Specific objectives are: a) establish Urban Agriculture demonstration farms in Metro Manila; b) establish one Urban Agriculture demonstration farm in Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, and other Metro Cities outside Metro Manila; c) establish Urban Agriculture demonstration farms in every agency of the Department of Agriculture situated in the National Capital Region; d) capacitate beneficiaries on value adding to their produce; e) create community livelihood in the areas of Urban Agriculture Program; and f) provide incentives to the Urban Agriculture Program beneficiaries.
The Urban Agriculture Program Beneficiaries shall be provided with the following: a. Starter seedlings and fingerlings; b. Starter garden soil, fertilizer, and aqua feeds; c. Small agricultural tools; d. Technical assistance in maintaining an Urban Agriculture; e. Designs of small structures as appropriate; f. Capacity building and livelihood training; g. Cash Prizes for the best Urban Agriculture Program.