TESDA

Agarwood Farming NC I – NC III

A. COVER PAGE

Title: Proposal for the Establishment of a Standalone TESDA Qualification: Agarwood Farming NC I – NC III
Sector: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery
Sub-sector: Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) / High-Value Tree Crops
Submitted to: TESDA Central Office

B. EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) is one of the highest-value non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in the world, commanding premium prices in the fragrance, incense, wellness, and cultural heritage markets, particularly in the Middle East, East Asia, and Europe.

Despite its economic, cultural, and ecological importance, the Philippines currently lacks a dedicated Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) qualification for Agarwood Farming. Skills related to agarwood are fragmented across general agriculture, forestry, or tree-crop programs, none of which adequately address the species-specific biology, legal constraints, biosecurity risks, ethical trade requirements, and international compliance standards unique to agarwood.

This policy brief formally recommends the creation of a standalone TESDA National Certificate (NC) ladderized qualification: Agarwood Farming NC I, NC II, and NC III, to support legal production, farmer protection, environmental sustainability, and export competitiveness.

C. POLICY JUSTIFICATION

  • High-value export commodity
  • CITES-regulated species requiring trained compliance
  • Not adequately covered by existing Agriculture or Forestry NCs
  • Aligns with national priorities on agroforestry, climate resilience, and rural employment

D. PROPOSED QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE

Ladderized Framework

  • Agarwood Farming NC I – Entry-level, assistive, compliance-aware skills
  • Agarwood Farming NC II – Skilled production, inoculation, harvesting, post-harvest handling
  • Agarwood Farming NC III – Plantation supervision, quality control, traceability, and market readiness

E. TRAINING REGULATIONS (SUMMARY)

NC I

  • Focus: Nursery assistance, plantation establishment support, farm maintenance, ethics and compliance
  • Duration: 240 hours

NC II

  • Focus: Full-cycle agarwood production including inoculation and grading
  • Duration: 320 hours

NC III (Proposed)

  • Focus: Supervisory skills, quality assurance, documentation, export readiness
  • Duration: To be finalized upon industry consultation

F. INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND INSTITUTIONAL ALIGNMENT

Government

  • TESDA – Skills certification and assessment
  • DENR – Forestry regulation and CITES compliance
  • DA / ATI – Farmer training and production systems

Industry and Academia

  • Agarwood grower associations
  • Accredited training farms
  • State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)

G. EXPECTED OUTCOMES

  • Standardized national skills for agarwood farming
  • Reduced illegal harvesting and trade
  • Improved farmer income and export competitiveness
  • Strengthened environmental stewardship

H. IMPLEMENTATION READINESS

  • Modular, competency-based structure
  • Deliverable through TESDA centers, LGUs, cooperatives, and private training institutions
  • No new policy instruments required

I. RECOMMENDATION

Approval of the development and issuance of Training Regulations for Agarwood Farming NC I – NC III.