With the national government’s mission to address the country's food security, the Rizal Technological University (RTU) in Mandaluyong City, through its president Dr. Jose Q. Macaballug, has taken the lead and initiative in the implementation of a project dubbed, Urban Agriculture. This is presently being undertaken at selected barangays in the Mandaluyong City area.

Prof. Arlene Banaria-Alon, director of the University’s Research and Development Center. its project leader, Prof. Alexander Quilang, co-project leader Prof. Norberto Bautista and Prof. Jovita Anit are currently working with the city’s League of Barangays in incorporate this project into each of the chosen barangays.

Spearheaded by Atty. Jessie Cruz, it aims to promote vegetable gardening among city dwellers and eventually teach them to grow home-grown vegetables that are pesticide-free and readily available. In the future, the concept of urban farming can be adopted by other municipalities and cities in Metro Manila.

Urban Agriculture is not a new concept. It is the practice of cultivating, processing, packaging and distributing food in or around a village, town or city. It involves the principles in horticulture, animal science, fisheries, and business. Instead of raising vegetables in the province, it focuses production right in the home, usually in all available spaces like roof top gardens, backyards, vacant residential lots, in school lots or in community parks. Urban farming usually focuses on food production.

Urban farming has been successful in countries like the United States, where vegetables are raised in vacant lots to provide readily available crops in the area. The vegetables are usually cheap as the don't need to be shipped or transported from distant locations.

With these, some of the activities to be involved in the project will include the planting and raising of small quantities of vegetable crops and small fruit trees, the cultivation of freshwater fish in container, the raising of  poultry and small livestock , the planting of houseplants for indoor use, the vermi-composting (earthworm) of garden wastes and the gradual introduction of organic gardening concepts.

Urban Agriculture aims to encourage the use of the bio-intensive method of food production which will help make urban farming more efficient.

RTU and the local government of Mandaluyong intend to make use of vacant lots, residential spaces, balconies and roof-tops for vegetable growing, urban greening, and landscape beautification. With these, it aims to create an alternative means of livelihood to city-residents, especially women and out-of-school youths. This will also instill an entrepreneurship attitude among residents. It also pushes for the composting of organic wastes, recycling of plastic, styro-foam, glass and metal wastes.

Vegetables and plant crops that can be planted for urban agriculture include Tomato, Bell Pepper, Hot Pepper, Pechay, Mustard, Upland KangKong, Spinach, Squash, Upo, Patola, Ampalaya, Eggplant, Onion, Shallots, Kinchay, Celery, Okra, Sitaw, Batao, Sweet Potato, Leeks, Basil, Alugbati, Raddish, Carrots, Saluyot, Wingbean, Lettuce, Ube, Papaya, Banana, Corn, Malunggay, Pandan, Katuray, Ginger and Gabi.

Fruits tress can be planted in areas with larger planting areas . This may include include Mango, Kamias, Sampaloc, Jackfruit, Star Apple, Balimbing, Guava, Rambutan, Chico, Makopa, and Guyabano.

There is a demonstration farm beside the Rizal Technological University’s campus where different vegetables are being pilot tested. Designs in vertical farming techniques using PVC Pipes and also in large polypropylene seedling bags are being tested.

Ideal sites or space must have enough open space. This will allow the plants to receive ample morning and afternoon sun. With a more spacious planting site, plants are protected from pedestrians and roaming animals.

Once the site is selected, the people who reside in the area will be trained in urban farming. Soil in the area will be cultivated using a spade and rake.

The project also entails the removal of large rocks, plastic litter and trash found in the selected planting sites. This will be followed by the leveling  of the ground. Soil amelioration will be done using garden soil, compost or coconut coir. Once the site is ready, garden plots will be prepared and the vegetables will be planted.

Proper seed sowing techniques, transplanting, fertilization, pest and disease control and maintenance of vegetable crops will be taught and the residents will be closely supervised.    

This project allows small spaces to be utilized for growing small quantities of food crops for family consumption. It also offerrs a small incentive for low income earners who don't have enough funds to put food on the table.

Some vegetables like petchay, mustasa and kangkong grow very fast and are common ingredients in almost all Filipino dishes. Instead of buying these common vegetables in the market, one can easily harvest them right in his own backyard, where the vegetables he grows areguaranteed to be safe, healthy and pesticide-free.

So, why not grow some of your own vegetables? It’s a worthwhile and interesting challenge, especially for those who have the space and the time to do it.