The Global Shapers Community - Davao Hub, in collaboration with Kids Who Farm, have partnered with The Department of Education (DEPED) Region XI and San Roque Central Elementary School for the pilot location of the Urban Community Microfarm Project. In partnering with schools and local communities, the project aims to foster a renewed appreciation of farming for the next generation of food producers, to provide hyperlocal access to healthy food to address food insecurity and malnutrition through transfer of sustainable urban agriculture technologies, and to promote self-sufficiency in the communities for improved local livelihood.

Our food doesn’t come from a box. It is being produced by our farmers, our food producers. The agriculture sector of the Philippines contributes to around 25 percent of total employment with over 11 million Filipinos depending on agriculture as their source of livelihood. Unfortunately, our farmers are not getting any younger. In fact, the average age of a Filipino farmer is 59 years old. The ageing farmer population and the perceived disinterest of the youth of today to engage in farming imperil the future of our food security.

There are 5.2 million Filipino families that are continuously experiencing involuntary hunger, 14.2 million children are undernourished and around 13 million are food-insecure. COVID-19 and the impacts of climate change have further exacerbated our food security challenge. According to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), climate change can affect all pillars of food security, reducing crop yields in the tropics, raising food prices, reducing the nutritive value of some foods and disrupting food availability. The growing population of the Philippines, currently at over 100 million and expected to reach over 140 million by 2040, is an additional factor that may compromise food availability and accessibility. The rapid urbanization of our cities has provided another layer of risk. As we face a climate and pandemic-defined future, it is increasingly evident that all sectors of have a significant role to play in the more prudent management of our natural resources and the human footprint.

The overall aim of the School Microfarm Project is to improve the school’s community garden and feeding program by providing hyperlocal access to safe, nutritious and healthy vegetables and herbs. In addition, this project also aims to foster a renewed appreciation for the advocacy of farming and local food security, and inspire the youth as the next generation of future farmers.

Project objectives:

• Transfer sustainable urban agriculture production technologies such as hydroponics to school children and teachers and improve their Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) or school garden;


• Provide agroenterprise development interventions such as entrepreneurial mindsetting, market value chain, production cost and return analysis, and also integrating a financial literacy curriculum to better understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing.


• Provide health and nutrition learning sessions that incorporate proper health and nutrition education to the students and their caretakers to help them make healthier food choices, and place an importance on healthy eating habits for proper health and nutrition.


• Showcase successful agri-enterprise practices and businesses in order to foster a renewed appreciation of farming and local food security, and to inspire the youth as the next generation of future farmers.

For the San Roque Central Elementary School pilot location for the Urban Community Microfarm Project, urban agriculture technologies of organic kratky hydroponics and container gardening will be used effectively for their school microfarm. It will be an enhancement of their ongoing Gulayan sa Paaralan (GPP) or school garden and this new microfarm will serve as a model for urban food self-sufficiency through hyper local access to safe, fresh and healthy food.

Providing food access through local food production is essential in achieving food security. The Urban Community Microfarm Project recognizes the important role of the local community members most especially educational institutions in crafting local food security solutions. Tapping into these sectors is a strategic opportunity to advance the advocacy of community participation in agriculture, addressing food security issues such as hunger and malnutrition, and creates a platform for lasting community impacts.

Project Outputs: 

• 1 functional school micofarm established.


• At least 50 school children and 5 faculty members per school microfarm are able to learn urban agriculture technologies.


• Partner school microfarms are able to integrate agri-enterprise and financial literacy techniques within the community.


• A creation of a savings club for the community in order to sustainably continue operations of the microfarm.


• Increased nutrient dense food consumption and improvement of health in the students/members of the community.


• Increased interest in the youth to become the next generation of farmers by encouraging them to start their own agribusiness or to undertake agriculture for their future profession.

Project Outcomes:

• Facilitation of learning sessions to target school microfarm on urban agriculture technologies such as organic kratky hydroponics and container gardening to build their knowledge and skills on urban vegetable production for hyperlocal access to food.


• Facilitation of learning sessions on developing agri-enterprises to build their knowledge and skills on agriculture-based livelihood through basic entrepreneurial knowledge and better financial management.


• Facilitation of learning sessions on proper health and nutrition education to the students and their caretakers to help them make healthier food choices, and place an importance on healthy eating habits for proper health and nutrition.