This paper investigates the observer-based fuzzy controller design method for nonlinear discrete-time singular systems that are represented by Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy models. At first, the nonlinearity can be well-approximated with several local linear input-output relationships. The parallel distributed compensation (PDC) technology and the proportional derivative (PD) feedback scheme are then employed to construct the observer-based fuzzy controller. To solve the problem of unmeasured states, the impulsive phenomenon of singular systems, and the PD scheme’s reasonableness, a novel observer-based fuzzy controller is developed. By using the Lyapunov theory and projection lemma, the stability criteria are built in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI). Moreover, the gains of fuzzy controller and fuzzy observer can be calculated synchronously by using convex optimization algorithms. Finally, a biological economic system is provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed fuzzy control method.