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
This submission package formally proposes the establishment of a ladderized TESDA qualification for Agarwood Farming (NC I, NC II, and NC III) to address critical gaps in skills standardization, legal compliance, environmental protection, and export readiness for one of the world’s highest-value non-timber forest products.
C. POLICY JUSTIFICATION
(Attached as Annex A)
- 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.
ANNEXES
- Annex A: Policy Brief – Justification for a Standalone Agarwood Farming Qualification
- Annex B: Training Regulations – Agarwood Farming NC I (Draft)
- Annex C: Training Regulations – Agarwood Farming NC II (Draft)
- Annex D: NC I–NC II–NC III Ladderization Matrix
- Annex E: Alignment Matrix (TESDA–DENR–DA)
- Annex F: Sample Endorsement Letters (Industry / LGU / SUC)
ANNEX G – TESDA BOARD BRIEF (ONE-PAGE)
Proposal: Establishment of Agarwood Farming NC I – NC III
Decision Requested:
Approval to develop and pilot a standalone TESDA qualification for Agarwood Farming (NC I, NC II, NC III).
Background
Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) is a high-value, CITES-regulated non-timber forest product with strong international demand. The Philippines currently lacks a dedicated TESDA qualification addressing agarwood-specific production, compliance, and ethical trade requirements.
Key Issues
- Skills fragmentation under generic agriculture and forestry NCs
- High risk of illegal practices due to lack of compliance training
- Missed opportunity for rural livelihood and export competitiveness
Proposed Action
Approve the issuance of Training Regulations for Agarwood Farming NC I–NC III under the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Sector.
Expected Outcomes
- Legal, sustainable agarwood production workforce
- Improved farmer income and export readiness
- Alignment with DENR conservation and DA agroforestry goals
Implementation
Pilot delivery through TESDA Training Centers, LGUs, SUCs, and accredited private farms.