Cayetano

Loan description:

Cayetano Ortiz is a 'calamansi' farmer. The calamansi fruit is indigenous and widely cultivated in the Philippines. The calamansi tree bears a small citrus fruit that is used to flavor foods and drinks. Cayetano is a member of the microfinance organisation, Alalay sa Kaunlaran. He is 55 and owns one hectare of land in the neighbourhood of Bagong Sikat, in the town of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija province. He has four daughters who already have their respective families. He lives together with his wife Flora who is a market vendor. His fertile land is full of calamansi trees. Calamansi juice is high in vitamin C and an effective remedy for coughs and colds. He started this business about four years ago. He harvests the fruit and sells it on a weekly basis at various public markets. He employs one full-time worker to help him care for the trees, including applying fertiliser and watering, and also collecting the harvest. Cayetano requested a five month loan of 80,000 Philippine pesos or around $2100. The loan is to purchase fertiliser and also saplings. If demand continues to increase he expects to take on more staff.