Organic Fertiliser Production Centre
Organic Fertiliser Powering Sustainable FarmingThe social challenge
Smallholder farmers in rural Philippines face multiple barriers to adopting sustainable farming practices. Conventional farming methods reliant on chemical fertilisers degrade soil health, pollute local water systems, and reduce long-term yields. At the same time, organic fertiliser products, while better for the environment and crop resilience, are often expensive, poorly distributed, or entirely unavailable in rural areas. Farmers lack access to affordable, high-quality organic inputs, training on sustainable methods, and market incentives to make the transition. These systemic challenges contribute to ongoing cycles of poverty, soil depletion, and vulnerability to climate change.
Social business solution
To address these issues, the MATAPAT Cooperative, with support from the Social Business Fund, established an Organic Fertiliser Production Centre as an eco-agri enterprise focused on producing and distributing affordable, high-quality organic fertiliser made from locally sourced biodegradable waste. The Centre promotes a circular economy by turning agricultural and organic waste into a valuable input for smallholder farms. Through a community-based distribution model, the enterprise ensures accessibility to remote farming communities. It also delivers training on organic farming techniques and helps farmers achieve accreditation, empowering farmers to improve yields, reduce costs, and protect their land from degradation. By combining environmental sustainability with economic opportunity, the business supports a local shift toward climate-smart, organic agriculture.
Support provided
- Provided start up working capital for commercial production of organic compost fertiliser & foliars
- Business model development
- Establishment of an organic fertiliser production facility
- Farm input, materials and tools
Impact
75kg
organic vegetables produced per harvest cycle
53,000
sqm of organic farming area established
5
PGS-certified organic farms
20%
increase in farm income through organic methods
What’s next?
The MATAPAT coop will focus on scaling impact through improved production, climate resilience, and market coordination. The formulation of organic fertiliser and foliar products will be upgraded to meet organic certification standards and allow for increased production volumes. Alongside this, organic vegetable production will be expanded, supported by the development of low-cost, climate-resilient farm structures to reduce crop losses from extreme weather events. To strengthen market access, crop programming will be introduced, and a coordinated system for marketing organic produce will be established, linking farmers to more stable and profitable markets.
“On behalf of MATAPAT Agricultural Cooperative, I would like to thank Dana Asia for helping and supporting us in building the Organic Fertilizer Production facility. Where we are making our own organic fertilizer and foliars to increase our vegetable production. This also helps in promoting organic farming towards influencing farmers to transform their farming methods away from synthetic use of fertilizers and pesticides.”
– Norma Bautista, organic farmer & Treasurer of MATAPAT Agri Cooperative
