PH
Urban gardening started as a pandemic hobby for many Filipinos, but it is now being treated as a potential professional skill.
In August 2026, the Department of Agriculture and TESDA announced a partnership to establish training and certification pathways for urban and peri-urban agriculture.
This could eventually allow experienced plantitos and plantitas to become certified practitioners, trainers, assessors, or agricultural educators.
The initiative connects home gardening with food security, livelihood opportunities, and climate resilience.
It also shows how a hobby can evolve into a formal technical skill. Growing vegetables in a city may therefore become more than a pastime.
© Department of Agriculture Philippines