MANILA - Filipino farmers can tap ancient methods to help it catch up with Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of agricultural productivity, an environment group said Tuesday.

These include bio-intensive gardening, which involves deep soil cultivation and companion planting or farming together 2 or more kids of produce, said Haribon Foundation training officer Lounelle Godinez.

"Bio-intensive gardening has been there for years, like ancient years, it's really about discovering our old practice, organic practice of farming," Godinez told ANC's Early Edition.

Godinez said old gardening practices would also reduce the need for fertilizers.

An aging farmer population and fewer young people taking up jobs pose challenges to increasing agriculture productivity.