Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
(044) 4560-213, od@philmech.gov.ph

NEWS STORIES

Mindanao receives two agricultural tramline system
by Tramline Team (July 30, 2010)
This facility will minimize the damages of the produce, maintain freshness after harvest and facilitate faster and reliable transport system,` said Director Raul R. Paz of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) during the turn-over ceremony of the agricultural tramline system in Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur and Andap, New Bataan, Compostella Valley, recently.


The Kapatagan agricultural tramline system lies in the southern foothills of Mt. Apo. It has a length of 620 meters, and is expected to benefit 150 farmers tilling over 100 hectares of vegetable production area. The technology has a hauling capacity of 350kg per load or 1.5-2 tons per hour.


`Ito ang kauna-unahang agricultural tramline sa buong Mindanao at nagpapasalamat kami at napili ang aming lugar na mabigyan ng ganitong pasilidad. Inaasahan ko na mas lalo pang ganahan ang mga magsasaka na magtanim ng mga high value commercial crops (HVCC),` (This is the first agricultural tramline in Mindanao and we are thankful that our place was chosen to receive this kind of facility. I hope that with tramline, farmers will be more eager in planting high value commercial crops.) Dr. Carlos B. Mendoza, regional executive director of Department of Agriculture Region XI said.


Meanwhile, Paz narrated how the farmers of Kapatagan realized their needs of having a tramline facility in their area. According to Paz, the farmers can save 20-50 percent in their hauling cost using the technology.


`Maraming salamat at mawawakasan ang aming paghihirap sa paghakot ng aming produkto at pataba galing sa bundok papunta sa pinakamalapit na kalsada,` (Thank you, this is the end of our hardship in hauling our products and farm inputs from the mountain to the nearest road.) Barangay Captain Juanito Morales of Kapatagan said in his acceptance speech.


Another beneficiary of agricultural tramline system is the local government unit of New Bataan, Compostella Valley. The 540 meter agricultural tramline system will serve as an alternative transport system for the highland farmers in the area.


`I look forward for the establishment of more tramlines in our municipality to enhance our vegetable production,` Mayor Lorenzo Balbin Jr, of New Bataan said. He added that 95 percent of their population depend on farming as their source of livelihood. New Bataan has 55,000 hectares land area and 43,000 of which is mountainous.


The implementation of the project is spearheaded by PHilMech and funded under the National Tramline Program of the Department of Agriculture`s High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC). The Mindanao agricultural tramline units were established in coordination with DA-RFU XI, Local Government Unit (LGU) and farmer-beneficiaries.