Current condition of the organic fertilizer market in the Canton of Alvarado, Cartago

Abstract

Market conditions, such as the supply, the demand and the prices, are vital to establish a marketing strategy in any kind of product, and compost should not escape this practice. The idea of creating this study was born due to the Municipalidad de Alvarado´s Solid Waste Management Program. This local government, located in Cartago, Costa Rica has achieved important progress in environmental education, residues classification and separation, and domestic organic residues recycling through composting practices. This last process was initiated by pilot trials, developed by Fabián Marín Rivas, an Agribusiness student from TEC in his Graduation Project. Since the obtained product could be sold locally, the Municipalidad de Alvarado needed to receive accurate market information to establish a marketing strategy for the compost. Due to this actions, the local government can manage the organic portion of the inhabitants´ waste according to the national legislation, provide a kind of fertilizer to local farmers which is safe for the environment, and create an income to maintain the operation and sustainability of this type of activities.