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The Challenge

Despite being the world’s second-largest coconut producer, many Filipino smallholder farmers earn modest incomes and face high vulnerability to climate risks such as typhoons, landslides, and pest infestations. Limited access to certification, resource-efficient technologies, and market linkages further constrains their ability to benefit from global demand for organic products. These challenges are compounded by aging plantations and monoculture practices, which reduce soil health and threaten biodiversity.

The Opportunity

Agri Exim has demonstrated strong business success, achieving revenue growth in the past year and expanding its farmer network significantly. Its integrated model minimizes waste by utilizing every part of the coconut – from the oil and milk, to shells for biochar - while maintaining rigorous organic and Fair Trade standards. With established market access across Asia, Europe, and North America, Agri Exim is well-positioned to scale sustainably, creating higher incomes for farmers and meeting global demand for healthy, natural products. This growth will unlock opportunities for thousands of farmers while reducing waste and improving resource efficiency.

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Origination Facility Support

• Conducting environmental and social impact assessments and compliance studies aligned with IFC Performance Standards.
• Piloting climate-resilient farming practices, including intercropping and soil health improvement.
• Strengthening farmer cooperatives and enabling organic and Fair Trade certification.
• Designing resource-efficiency measures such as solar energy integration and biochar utilization.
  
  

Forecasted Impact

Accessing more private finance could enable the project with Agri Exim to achieve the following impacts:

• Farmers: Expansion from 5,500 to 8,500 smallholder farmers by 2027.
• Land: Organic certification for an additional 13,800 hectares (total 25,000 ha).
• Livelihoods: 5–7% annual income increase through Fair Trade and organic premiums.
• Climate Resilience: Disaster-risk reduction in typhoon-prone areas and improved soil health.
• Resource Efficiency: Renewable energy feasibility and zero-waste processing.
  

“The DFCD is delighted to work with Agri-EXIM and begin a partnership with the Suminter Group. Agri Exim is expanding its processing capacity, being funded by FMO. The development phase will work on increasing the number of farmers from 5,500 to 8,500, mainly Ethnic Minorities and 40% being woman, at the same time increasing the number of organic hectares from 12,000 to 25,800

Along with our partner WWF Philippines we will work on intercropping, organic pest control, soil fertility management, and Fair-Trade Certification during development.”
                                                                                                         -     Stuart Beavis, DFCD Regional Lead for Asia

“Through sustainable cultivation and value-added processing, Agri Exim Philippines is unlocking the next phase of growth for the coconut sector. In collaboration with DFCD, we are developing an integrated ecosystem that delivers farmer impact while strengthening the Philippines’ global coconut competitiveness.”                                                                                                              -  Rohit Dhawan, CEO Agri Exim

Looking Ahead

By combining Agri Exim’s proven track record with WWF’s conservation expertise and DFCD’s catalytic finance, this project can deliver scalable solutions for climate-resilient agriculture. The expansion will not only strengthen farmer livelihoods but also set a benchmark for sustainable coconut production in Southeast Asia.

Contact

For more information, contact Stuart Beavis, DFCD Regional Lead for Asia at sbeavis@wwf.org.hk. In case you have any grievances in relation to this project of the DFCD’s Origination Facility, please contact us through our service desk at servicedesk@wwf.nl.