Green microfinance: Meet Norma L. Bautista
March, 2024Norma L. Bautista is an organic farmer living in Tigaon with her husband and daughter. Her family farms a ¾ hectare plot, cultivating high-value crops, fruit trees, and vegetables using organic methods. Before starting her own farm, Norma worked on a private farm earning around ₱1,500 (AU$40) per month; today, her household income has increased to approximately ₱5,000 (AU$132) per month.
In 2015, Norma joined several farmer cooperatives and organic farming organisations, including The Agri Planters and Food Processors Association of Tigaon (TAPFPAT) and MATAPAT Agri-Coop, where she currently serves as Secretary and Treasurer respectively. These memberships expanded her practical knowledge, connected her with experienced farmers, and helped her adopt innovative organic farming practices.
Organic farmers in the Philippines face increasing challenges due to climate change, including extreme weather and unstable seed supplies. Norma plans to develop her own seed bank to strengthen resilience and expand her farm’s output. She also aims to produce processed products such as pickled vegetables and chutneys, and to become a supplier of seedlings and planting materials, further growing her agripreneurial enterprise.
“Running a small farm is challenging because it tests everything you’ve learned. Every resource is maximised, and the support from Dana Asia through capital and training has helped me achieve higher income and sustainability. In the future, I hope to access more capital to innovate on my farm and improve structures and equipment for long-term growth.”
– Norma Bautista
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