TESDA offers comprehensive horticulture courses designed to equip individuals with essential skills and knowledge in farming and crop production. These programs cover a wide range of topics, including pre-farm operations, vegetable and fruit cultivation, post-harvest processes, and workplace communication. With a focus on hands-on learning, participants also gain expertise in teamwork, professionalism, and occupational safety.
Also read: TESDA Agricultural Crops Production Courses
The Horticulture NC II course is ideal for those starting in horticulture, while the Horticulture NC III program is geared toward individuals looking to manage small farms or run their own enterprises. Both programs offer practical competencies to help learners succeed in the agriculture industry.
Benefits
- Enhanced Skills and Knowledge: Gain expertise in pre-horticultural operations, crop production, post-harvest handling, and farm management.
- Career Opportunities: Equip yourself with skills to work in the agriculture industry or start your own horticulture business.
- Hands-On Experience: Learn practical techniques for growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers, as well as maintaining and harvesting crops.
- Professional Growth: Develop workplace communication, teamwork, and career professionalism skills to thrive in the industry.
- Entrepreneurial Advantage: Prepare to manage your own small farm or join a cooperative with confidence and autonomy.
- Industry-Relevant Training: Understand occupational health and safety, farm operations safety, and basic calculations needed in real-world applications.
- Sustainable Practices: Learn to cultivate crops in ways that ensure sustainability and adaptability to tropical and semi-temperate climates.
Horticulture NC II
This course builds knowledge and skills in horticulture, covering farm operations, vegetable and fruit production, and post-harvest practices for tropical and lowland crops. It also includes teamwork, communication, professionalism, safety, and basic calculations in farm work.
Units of Competency
These units of competency comprising this qualification include the following:
TOOL/BASIC COMPETENCIES
- Receive and respond to workplace communication
- Work with others
- Participate in workplace communication
- Work in a team environment
- Practice career professionalism
- Practice occupational health and safety procedures
COMMON COMPETENCIES
- Apply safety measures in farm operations
- Use farm tools and equipment
- Perform estimation and calculations
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Conduct pre-horticultural farm operations
- Produce vegetables
- Produce fruit-bearing crops
- Perform post-harvest operations of major tropical fruits
- Perform post-harvest operations of major lowland and semi-temperate vegetable crops
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, trainees will be able to:
- Explain and follow routine workplace communication and messages.
- Perform workplace duties by following written instructions and notices.
- Develop effective workplace relationships.
- Contribute to workgroup activities.
- Obtain and convey workplace information effectively.
- Participate in workplace meetings and discussions.
- Complete relevant work-related documents.
- Describe team roles and responsibilities.
- Identify individual roles and responsibilities within a team.
- Work collaboratively as a team member.
- Align personal objectives with organizational goals.
- Set and meet work priorities.
- Maintain professional growth and development.
- Identify, evaluate, and control workplace hazards and risks.
- Maintain Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) awareness.
- Identify areas of concern for safety measures.
- Apply appropriate safety measures.
- Safeguard and properly dispose of tools, materials, and equipment.
- Select and use farm tools effectively.
- Select and operate farm equipment.
- Perform preventive maintenance on tools and equipment.
- Conduct estimations and basic workplace calculations.
- Prepare tools, farm implements, and basic equipment for horticultural operations.
- Prepare and maintain farm facilities.
- Secure tools, farm implements, equipment, and facilities.
- Prepare land for planting.
- Grow vegetable seedlings.
- Transplant seedlings.
- Maintain the growth of vegetables.
- Harvest crops.
- Select and prepare sites for planting.
- Grow fruit-bearing seedlings.
- Transplant seedlings of fruit-bearing crops.
- Grow trees.
- Harvest tropical fruits and major lowland and semi-temperate vegetables.
- Prepare post-harvest materials, tools, equipment, and facilities for tropical fruits and vegetables.
- Conduct post-harvest operations for major tropical fruits and lowland/semi-temperate vegetables.
- Package and store major tropical fruits and lowland/semi-temperate vegetables.
Training Duration
The total training program spans 1,440 Hours, equivalent to 10 months.
Qualifications
Trainees or students who wish to enroll must meet the following criteria:
- Must be able to read and write
- Demonstrates good moral character
- Can effectively communicate both orally and in writing
- Physically fit and mentally healthy, certified by a Public Health Officer
Sample of Certificate of Completion
Horticulture NC III
Horticulture NC III focuses on skills for managing small farms, including establishing, maintaining, and harvesting horticultural crops like vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Graduates often work independently, run small enterprises, or operate within cooperatives.
Units of Competency
These units of competency comprising this qualification include the following:
BASIC COMPETENCIES
- Lead workplace communication
- Lead small teams
- Develop and practice negotiation skills
- Solve problems related to work activities
- Use mathematical concepts and techniques
- Use relevant technologies
COMMON COMPETENCIES
- Apply safety measures in farm operations
- Use farm tools and equipment
- Perform estimation and calculations
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Prepare land for agricultural crop production
- Implement post-harvest program
- Implement plant nutrition program
- Control weeds
- Prepare and apply chemicals
- Establish horticultural crops
- Coordinate horticultural maintenance program
- Coordinate horticultural crop harvesting
- Undertake field budding and grafting
- Undertake propagation activities
ELECTIVE COMPETENCIES
- Follow site quarantine procedures
- Collect samples for a rural production or horticultural monitoring program
- Handle bulk materials in storage area
- Prepare grain storage
- Comply with industry quality assurance requirements
- Maintain and monitor environmental work practices
- Keep records for farm business
- Perform specialized machinery maintenance
- Install irrigation systems
Career Opportunities
A person who has achieved this qualification is competent to work as:
- Independent Farmer (Owner/Operator in a smaller operation)
- Leading Hand
Training Duration
- Basic Competency: 18 hours
- Common Competency: 14 hours
- Core Competency: 413 hours
Total: 445 hours
Qualifications
Students or trainees wishing to enroll in this course should meet the following requirements:
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
- Physically and mentally fit
- Good moral character
- Basic mathematical skills
Note: Additional requirements, such as educational background or work experience, may vary depending on the school or training center offering the program.
Requirements
To enroll in, certain requirements must be met. These include:
- PSA Birth Certificate
- High School or College Diploma
- Certified True Copy of Official Transcript of Records or Form 137
- Certificate of Good Moral Character or GMRC
- 1 x 1 and/or 2 x 2 pictures
It is important to note that the specific requirements may vary depending on the school you are enrolling in. Therefore, it is advisable to communicate with the school to be informed about any possible variations in the required documents.
Also read: TESDA Food and Beverage Services Courses
Video: TESDA NC II & NC III – Paano Kumuha ng National Certificate para sa Inyong Skills (OFW & Non-OFW)
If you are an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) or a non-OFW, and you want to get your skills certified by TESDA, then this video is for you!
In this tutorial, you will learn about the National Certificate (NC) II and III, what they are, why it’s important to have them, and how you can get them.
Summary
The TESDA Horticulture courses provide essential skills for managing farms and crops, covering areas like communication, safety, farm operations, and post-harvest management. Graduates can pursue careers as independent farmers or team leaders. Enrollment requirements vary by training center, so review them carefully. Whether starting a farm or entering the agriculture industry, TESDA equips you for success.
