The Philippines, a beautiful archipelago nation, is blessed with fertile lands and a climate perfect for agriculture. For generations, our Filipino farmers have cultivated a bounty of crops, from tropical fruits to essential vegetables. But what happens when harvests are plentiful, leading to oversupply? This article explores agricultural business beyond the fresh produce stage, unlocking new income opportunities through the power of value-added products. By transforming your harvests into shelf-stable goods like jams, juices, fermented products, and dehydrated snacks, you can ensure financial stability throughout the year and become key players in a thriving agricultural sector.
Table of Contents
1. Lettuce (Hydroponics) farming
With the surge in Samgyupsal restaurants across the Philippines, the demand for lettuce is skyrocketing. Hydroponics is a growing trend in the Philippines, especially for lettuce farming. It’s a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient solution instead. This makes it ideal for areas with limited land or poor soil quality, and it can also help to reduce water usage. Hydroponic systems can produce higher yields than traditional soil-based farming so it is more profitable. Lettuce grown hydroponically is often cleaner and has a longer shelf life. Hydroponic systems use up to 90% less water than traditional farming methods! Imagine that? You can save a lot from water. Hydroponic farms can be controlled environments, so they can produce lettuce year-round, regardless of the climate! Because plants are not grown in soil, they are less susceptible to pests and diseases so it’s a big win.
Suppose you’re interested in starting a hydroponic lettuce farm in the Philippines. In that case, the cost of setting up a hydroponic farm will vary depending on the size and scale of your operation. However, the start-up can be an expensive investment. Hydroponic farming requires technical knowledge, such as mixing nutrient solutions and monitoring pH levels so you need to learn it first before you start it. Moreover, It’s important to have a good market for your lettuce before you start growing so you can make sure that once you harvest, you can deliver it to your customer.
2. Calamansi farming
Calamansi, a small citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia, thrives in the Philippines’ warm climate so it’s a good fruit to farm. Calamansi is grown throughout the Philippines, from backyards to large plantations. This accessibility makes it a popular choice for farmers. Because of the Philippines’ tropical climate, it provides ideal conditions for calamansi growth, with minimal need for special care. So if you’re a bit busy and don’t have time to take care of the farm that much, this agricultural business is good for you.
However, be mindful that Calamansi trees are susceptible to pests and diseases, and fruit production can vary depending on the season. And because it perishes fast, transporting fresh calamansi long distances can be challenging. That’s why, bottled calamansi juice extends the shelf life of the fruit, allowing farmers to tap into new markets beyond their immediate locality. There are tons of bottled calamansi juice now in the market and many Filipinos love them! It’s refreshing! Filipinos love calamansi for its refreshing and tangy flavor, driving up the demand for bottled juice. Processing calamansi into juice creates a higher-value product compared to selling fresh fruits. This can lead to increased income for you, especially during seasons of oversupply. The Department of Agriculture (DA) recognizes calamansi’s potential and provides support through programs like establishing processing facilities to help farmers convert their harvests into juice so someone has your back.
3. Papaya farming
Papaya grows well in the Philippines soil. It thrives in warm climates, making it a popular crop in the Philippines and many other tropical regions. Every time you visit the rural and suburban areas in the Philippines, you’ll see papaya trees bearing fruits and standing tall so it won’t be hard to start this agricultural business. Compared to some other tree fruits, papaya trees are known for being fast-growing and requiring less maintenance. Papaya is an ingredient in many products like lotion, soap, beauty products, and even food like “atchara” and tinola. Papaya offers income from both the fruit itself and another valuable product – papain. Therefore, this fruit means money. Start a papaya farm, learn to make perfect atchara, bottle and sell it online, and start a new brand out of it. If there’s a surplus of ripe papaya, make a papaya soap out of it and sell it with your own brand.
Papain is an enzyme extracted from the latex of unripe papayas. It has various industrial applications and is often referred to as a “meat tenderizer” due to its ability to break down proteins. Papain’s protein-dissolving properties make it a popular ingredient in beauty products like lotions and soaps for gentle exfoliation. It has various other uses in the pharmaceutical industry, textile processing, and even brewing. Unripe papaya can be sold to producers who extract papain, ensuring there’s no fruit wasted. Papaya puree can be incorporated into homemade soaps for its exfoliating and potentially brightening properties. Selling handcrafted papaya soap online can be a fun way to tap into the growing market for natural and locally-made products. However, research local regulations for selling cosmetics online before you begin.
4. Malunggay farming
You can make malunggay tea, vitamins, dried moringa leaves, malunggay chips, malunggay powder, and more. There are a lot of products you can make and sell from malunggay, so if you have an entrepreneurial mindset, start planting malunggay even just from your yard.
Malunggay, also known as Moringa oleifera, is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree that grows easily and is almost present in every Filipino’s backyard or front yard. It has earned the nickname “miracle tree” due to its impressive nutritional profile and wide range of uses. This plant is always an ingredient of every soup dish in the Philippines and it’s very healthy so Filipinos love this plant. The Philippines is a major producer of Malunggay, and it thrives in the country’s tropical climate. This is very easy to grow so if you start this agricultural business, you can jumpstart selling products that use moringa as their main ingredient. Malunggay requires minimal care and can be grown in various conditions, making it ideal for small-scale farmers. You can literally start it in a small area. Malunggay leaves can be harvested multiple times a year so a steady source of income! Almost every part of the Malunggay plant is usable, including the leaves, flowers, pods, seeds, and even the bark!
Fresh Malunggay leaves are a popular ingredient in soups, stews, and salads so you can sell the leaves in the local markets. They can also be juiced or dried for later use which means, you have more products. Dried and powdered Malunggay leaves offer a concentrated source of nutrients and can be easily incorporated into smoothies, yogurt, or baked goods so you can have Malunggay powder as a product. Capsules containing Malunggay powder are also a fad. Extracted from Malunggay seeds, Moringa oil is another product that is used in cosmetics for its moisturizing and nourishing properties. Another product is the Malunggay tea. Malunggay leaves can be steeped in hot water to make a healthy and refreshing tea. The growing awareness of Malunggay’s health benefits has increased the demand for Malunggay products, creating a gainful agricultural business for farmers.
5. Chili farming
Filipinos love chilis and it’s a staple ingredient in Filipino cuisine and also a strong agricultural business in the Philippines. We always saute our four main ingredients, chili, garlic, onion, and tomato, to start every dish we cook. But chilis are not only for cooking dishes. It can also be used as an ingredient for many products. We love chili sauce in our siomai and chili sauce can be now bought online and even in supermarkets. Chili sauce is very easy to make, with recipes available online. You can make chili sauce and put it in a bottle, then sell it online with your own branding. Aside from that, you can make chili powder, chili flakes, dried chilis, the classic sinamak, and more. You can even make pickled chilis. Chili peppers are pickled to create condiments like “atsara ng sili” (pickled chilies) adding a tangy and spicy element to meals. Chili oil is also great to sell. It’s a popular condiment made by infusing oil with chili peppers. It’s easy to make and profitable.
Even the leaves can be sold in the market because it is used as an ingredient in some dishes like tinola. This agricultural business is very profitable and easy to start especially since we mostly buy chilis and some of them dried off before we can cook them.
The Philippines’ tropical climate is perfect for growing chili peppers. Different chili pepper varieties thrive in various regions, ensuring a year-round supply. From the common “siling labuyo” (bird’s eye chili) to the fiery “siling habanero” (habanero pepper), there’s a chili pepper to suit every taste bud. Chili peppers can be grown in backyards or large plantations, so it’s a good option for both small-scale and large-scale farmers. The Philippines is also well-positioned to become a major exporter of chili peppers and chili products because of the increasing global demand for chili-based products.
6. Egg farming
Filipinos always cook eggs as an alternative to meat and as ingredients in many dishes and products, so there’s no doubt that this agricultural business will always succeed. There are even a lot of resources and learning materials available on YouTube for Filipinos who want to start this agricultural business. Almost all sari sari stores and local markets sell eggs so it’s easy to find customers where you’ll distribute your egg products.
Egg farming is a well-established agricultural business that can be a source of steady income. But did you know you can leverage your egg production into multiple income streams?
Fresh table eggs are the primary product but there’s more to an egg than meets the eye! Chickens raised on open pastures produce eggs with higher omega-3 fatty acids so this is appealing to health-conscious consumers. You can also sell freesia eggs which are eggs from hens fed at a specific diet containing marigolds. Brown eggs can be a product as well because some consumers prefer the taste or the aesthetics. To help the people around you and give them jobs, you can ask them to sell balut, penoy, and boiled eggs, which Filipinos love. For byproducts, chicken manure can be composted to create a valuable fertilizer, reducing waste and generating additional income.
For multiple income streams, you can sell chicks which allows you to sell day-old chicks or pullets (young hens) to other farmers or backyard chicken enthusiasts. You can also offer farm tours and educational workshops. If you have extra space in your coop, consider renting it out to people who want to raise their own chickens but lack the space or infrastructure. Combine your egg farm with a farm stay or restaurant featuring dishes made with your eggs, creating a unique agritourism experience.
Just remember to research local regulations and market demands before venturing into new egg products or services.
7. Napa cabbage farming
In recent years, Filipinos have been into Korean food, including kimchi. There are many supermarkets and local sellers, making kimchis and selling them. The main ingredient for this food is Napa cabbage which before, was not a thing here in the Philippines, but now, it’s very famous and the demand is high. Napa cabbage is specifically chosen for Kimchi due to its long, cylindrical shape, crisp texture, and mild flavor that readily absorbs the spicy and tangy seasonings. Farmers cultivating cabbage for Kimchi production focus on growing varieties that mature quickly and have a tight head formation, ideal for fermentation.
So if you want to start an agricultural business, go with Napa cabbage farming. Many Kimchi manufacturers contract with cabbage farms to ensure a steady supply that meets their specific quality requirements. Napa cabbage is also a valuable ingredient in various Asian cuisines beyond Kimchi. It’s used in stir-fries, soups, and salads in many restaurants. You can even have your own kimchi product which you can sell online. It’s also an alternative for lettuce and the usual cabbage so it’s now a common product in the local markets.
8. Milkfish “Bangus” farming
Milkfish or Bangus is a fish that every Filipino knows, even the kids. You can cook many dishes out of this fish like fried, grilled, and sinigang. Whenever you go to the wet market, there’s always Bangus sold on every stall. Therefore, every time you harvest your bangus, you can easily sell them to local sellers. There are also products that you can sell from Bangus like marinated, deboned bangus, and jarred bangus with olive oil and flavors. However, you should study well first how to do this agricultural business because to start this type of farming, you need to buy the milkfish fingerlings that could die if you don’t know how to care for them.
Bangus farming is a common practice throughout the Philippines, due to its high demand and suitability for brackish water environments. angus can be farmed in ponds, cages, or pens, with varying levels of intensity depending on factors like water quality and resource availability. This agricultural business contributes significantly to the Philippine economy, providing jobs and income for many Filipinos. Milkfish can be processed into various forms like boneless Bangus, danggit (dehydrated Bangus strips), tinapa (smoked Bangus), and bagoong (fermented Bangus paste). These processed products offer extended shelf life and cater to different consumer preferences. Bangus roe, also known as Alumahan, is a delicacy enjoyed for its rich flavor and creamy texture. It can be salted, fermented, or processed into various dishes. Even parts of the Bangus not typically consumed directly can be used. Fish bones can be ground into meal used in animal feed, while fish oil can be extracted for various applications. See? There are tons of ways to earn from this agricultural business!
9. Garlic farming
Garlic is also a staple ingredient in cuisines worldwide, especially here in the Philippines. Garlic thrives in cool climates with well-drained, loose soil so take note first what type of soil and climate your place has. Softneck and hardneck garlic are the two main types. Softneck garlic produces more cloves per bulb and stores well, while hardneck garlic has a more intense flavor and shorter shelf life. Garlic requires proper watering, weeding, and pest control throughout the growing season so you need to be hands-on in this agricultural business.
Aside from the fresh garlic itself, you can also make more products out of it. Garlic produces a flower stalk called a scape. These scapes can be harvested young and sold fresh or pickled, adding a milder garlicky flavor to dishes. There’s also black garlic wherein, regular garlic is fermented under controlled heat and humidity to create black garlic. Black garlic has a sweeter, richer taste and is a popular ingredient in gourmet cooking. Dehydrated garlic powder and flakes can also be sold because they offer convenience and extended shelf life. They can be sold to home cooks, restaurants, or food manufacturers. Extracted from garlic cloves, garlic oil is used for its health benefits and culinary applications. It can be sold in dropper bottles or infused into other products like marinades. Saving high-quality garlic cloves allows you to sell them to other farmers or home gardeners as seed garlic for the next planting season.
Sell your garlic directly to consumers through farmers’ markets or online platforms to capture a higher profit margin. Focus on creating unique garlic-infused products like garlic paste, dressings, or condiments to stand out in the market. For sustainability in garlic farming, rotating garlic with other crops helps maintain soil health and reduce pest and disease issues. Also, using organic fertilizers and pest control methods can attract health-conscious consumers and promote sustainable farming practices.
10. Pineapple farming
The Philippines is a major producer of pineapples worldwide. Some elites here in the Philippines own pineapple farms because this agricultural business offers high-income sources. Our warm climate and well-drained soils are ideal for pineapple cultivation, making it a popular choice for Filipino farmers. MD2 and Cavendish are the most common pineapple varieties grown in the Philippines because of their sweetness and golden yellow flesh. However, pineapple farming requires careful management throughout the growth cycle, from land preparation and planting to weed control, pest management, and harvesting.
Aside from selling the pineapple fruit itself, you can also produce processed pineapple products. Value-added processing allows you to transform your harvest into shelf-stable products like canned pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, jams, and jellies. Dehydrated pineapple slices are a popular snack and baking ingredient so this too, can be your product. They offer a concentrated sweetness and extended shelf life.
Fermenting pineapple juice can produce refreshing pineapple wine or vinegar, adding a unique twist to your product offerings. The leafy tops of pineapples, called crowns, can be propagated to grow new pineapple plants. You can sell these crowns to other farmers or home gardeners. Pineapple leaves are a source of natural fiber used in textiles, composite materials, and even biofuel production. With these multiple products, pineapple farming can be an agricultural business that will make your pocket deep.
Sell your fresh pineapples and processed products directly to consumers through farmers’ markets or online platforms, eliminating middlemen and increasing your profit margin. Transform your pineapple farm into an agritourism destination by offering farm tours, pineapple-picking experiences, or workshops on pineapple cultivation. If you have extra land or equipment, consider renting it out to other farmers during off-seasons to generate additional income. Pineapple waste, such as leaves and trimmings, can be composted into a valuable fertilizer, reducing waste and improving soil health for your own crops or for selling to other farmers.
Here’s a tip—planting other crops like legumes or vegetables between pineapple rows helps suppress weeds, improve soil fertility, and promote biodiversity. Pineapples require water, but implementing practices like drip irrigation can minimize water usage and promote sustainable farming. Using natural pest control methods and promoting beneficial insects can reduce reliance on harmful pesticides and ensure a healthy crop.
Conclusion
The Philippines’ agricultural landscape offers exciting opportunities for farmers and you. Remember that to be successful, think about the value-added products. Processing your harvest into juices, jams, flakes, or fermented products extends shelf life and creates income even during oversupply!
Consider processing techniques for jams and juices, fermentation for kimchi or vinegar, or drying fruits like mangoes and bananas. Remember to research local regulations and market demands before venturing into new products because being legal is important. By embracing innovation, diversification, and value-added products, you can navigate supply and demand fluctuations, ensure a steady income, and become key contributors to the country’s agricultural success. So, the next time you consider farming in the Philippines, think beyond the harvest and explore the possibilities of transforming your crops into a year-round business!
