He passes through deep ravines, crosses rivers, goes up and down the rugged, steep and seemingly unending terrain, while he carries heavy sacks of produce, down to the nearest road accessible by vehicle… Uh-oh! This is not a sacrificial act on a Lenten season, but an ordinary hauling task of an upland farmer in the mountainous region of the country.

Yes, upland farmers literally carry their own crosses every time they bring their produce to the nearest road market. They risk even their own lives just to turn their farm produce into money as they transport these to the nearest market centers.

In worse scenarios, land owners or farmers in the mountainous areas opt not to cultivate their land because of risks and costs of upland farming. Some abandon their land, some migrate to lowland areas.

Given the drudgery of manual hauling, the cost of transporting the farm produce from the production area to the nearest road is quite expensive (Idago, 2009). According to a study of Paz (2003), the transport cost would range from 20 to 30 percent of the value of the produce. At times, the available manpower for transporting the goods is scarce, especially during the peak season of harvest and farm operations.

In the Philippines, more than half of the vast agricultural areas can still be considered as either idle or unproductive. This can be attributed to the country’s mountainous topography and the inherent problems associated with it (Idago, 2009). It is reported that 28.7 percent of the country’s land area or 8,557,479 hectares are steeply sloping while 6 million hectares have 30 to 50 percent slopes and over 2 million hectares have slopes greater than 50 percent (De Jesus, undated).

The potential of highland farming is vast particularly for temperate fruits and vegetables. However, this can be spoiled by problems of drudgery in hauling, cost of transport, high postharvest losses and low productivity.

The Agricultural Tramline

The establishment of the Agricultural Tramline System (ATS) is the technology answer by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) to the sentiments of the upland farmers in the Philippines.

The agricultural tramline system is an alternative transport system for farmers in areas isolated from road network because of ravines, rivers, and dense vegetation. It is a hauling facility using cables and pulleys to transport agricultural products and inputs from isolated farms to the nearest roads. It can carry 150 to 500 kilograms of produce.

The benefits of this system include less drudgery in hauling of agricultural produce and farm inputs, improved product quality and reduced losses, increased yield and income of the farmers and labor opportunities.

In 1996, a pilot mono-cable tramline was established in Atok, Benguet for research purposes. In 2000, bi-cable tramlines were installed in Buguias and Kabayan, Benguet. In 2009, the Department of Agriculture released funds worth P200M for the nationwide implementation of the tramline program.

Today, there are 126 tramlines built in the most strategic places in the Philippines. Ninety seven are already completed, while the remaining 29 units are still under implementation.

Beneficiaries of the Tramline

The sustainability of any intervention still lies on the people who can work and become productive with it. The establishment of the agricultural tramline births the different organizations and associations of farmers in the upland areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These organizations are tasked to operate, maintain and keep the facility safe.

One of the beneficiaries of the tramline in northern Luzon is the Liang Bunglo Farmers Association in Atok, Benguet, an organization of 35 farmers that produces cabbage, carrots, potatoes, celery, broccoli, flowers and chayote. This 23-year-old organization experienced increase in membership (from 15 members) since they were granted the tramline in 2011. Today, the organization is planning to extend the reach of the technology so other barangays would also benefit from it.

Another beneficiary is the Taloy Sur Bauek Tramline Farmers’ Association, in Tuba, Benguet. Before, they struggle against the drudgery of hauling especially with their top commodity, chayote, since they have to cross strong current river up to the mountainous areas. They experienced great losses in the cost and quantity of their produce before it reaches their market in Urdaneta, Pangasinan and La Trinidad, Benguet. But not after they received the facility grant in 2010.

One of the first recipients of the newly designed tramline which can accommodate people is the Sampaloc Agricultural Tramline Association, a group of coconut farmers in Sariaya, Quezon. They experienced an express transport of their produce since the tramline was granted to them. Compared to their usual hauling experience of almost two hours using horses or human labor, today in few minutes, their produce reaches the nearest road market.

In the Visayas, farmers of Brgy. Tagukon in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental also benefit from the tramline. The problem of farmers from this area is the strong current river that separates their farming areas to the nearest road market. Because of the facility, however, both drudgery and cost of hauling were cut down. Their commodities include sugarcane, corn, mango and sweet potatoes.

In Mindanao, a group of tribal councils in Barangay Sibulan, Davao City greatly benefits from this facility. They are called Sinabaddan Kag Tugallan which means tribal chieftains. The idea of acquiring the facility in their area is a product of their Barangay Development Plan which aims to seek projects that will help improve the livelihood of their community. Tramline is one of their dream facilities since it can reach remote areas in their barangay.

Three sitios are benefitting from this facility: sitio Mitondo, Sinurungan and Catalilan. Their commodities are chayote, string beans, banana and squash. They are also using the tramline for livestock and grocery products.

Benefits of the Tramline

Minimized Drudgery in Hauling

One of the promised benefits of the agricultural tramline is the minimized drudgery in hauling agricultural produce. This was significantly experienced by the different farmers who adopted this technology for years now.

Farmers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who adopted the technology have testimonies on how tramline decreased the laborious process of hauling of their agricultural products and how tramline reduced the risk of accidents among farmers. According to Mr. Anghel Fernando, a councilor in Brgy. Tagukon in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, farmers in their barangay, would need to pass through steep terrains and ride boats to cross a river in order to market their farm produce. This would take them two hours or more, depending on their strength and ability to carry loads of produce all throughout their journey. But with the tramline, life becomes easier for the farmers.

“Dati mahirap ang pagdadala ng produkto kasi buhat buhat ang mga ani pababa sa ilog. Tapos, malalim pa yung ilog kaya sasakay pa ng bangka para makatawid. Kapag rainy season, ‘yan ang mas mahirap dito kasi ang current ng tubig sa ilog ay malakas,” said Mr. Fernando.

“Ngayon sa tramline, hindi na mahihirapan ang mga tao sa pagtransport ng mga produckto nila galing sa kabilang bundok dahil madali nang makatawid. Imaginin mo dati more or less 2 hours, ngayon, 3 to 5 minutes na lang,” said the 61 year-old tribal chieftain.

The same is the story of a group of farmers in Barangay Sibulan, Davao City. Mr. Hernan Ambe, president of the Sinabaddan Kag Tugallan, shared how tough and risky it was for farmers to haul their produce. Horses are available for hauling in the area but tramline is significantly faster and safer.

“Dati, kapag naabutan ka ng ulan sa gitna ng daan at kapag tumaas ang creek, maiiwan na sa biyahe yung mga produkto.
Pati mga baboy kapag dadalhin sa taas, mamamatay pa ito. Ngayon, kahit umuulan mas mabilis na ang paghaul. Yung paglabas ng karga mas madali, kasi kung sa kabayo almost 45 minutes eh, kung sa tramline 4 to 5 minutes lang,” said Mr. Ambe.

In minimizing drudgery, nothing beats the experience of the coconut farmers in Sariaya, Quezon. Prior to the introduction of the agricultural tramline, they would need to walk through seven kilometers of steep and rough roads down to a river and ravine before they get into the nearest road market. With the agricultural tramline, they now experience speedy transport of their produce.

“Dati, malayo nilalakad namin, iikot pa kami at bababa sa may ilaya papunta sa mga lupang sinasaka namin. Siguro mga pitong kilometrong lakaran ‘yun hindi gaya sa tramline, ilang minutes lang,” said Allan Villelas, operator of Brgy. Sampaloc Agricutural Tramline in Sariaya, Quezon.

Time wise, the Liang Bunglo Farmers Association in Atok, Benguet also experienced how they saved time in hauling through the use of the said technology.

“Malaki pagbabago sa pagbubuhat ng mga gulay namin e, madaling iakyat yung produkto namin. Maraming masasave na time. Noon, umaabot kami ng isang araw, ngayon oras lang. Ngayon pwedeng isang araw lang nandun na sa trading post,"Harvest ka ng umaga, afternoon nasa trading post. Noon, harvest mo isang araw, kinabukasan mo ipupunta sa palengke,” shared Mr. Zaldy Lepago, chairman of the association.

With the agricultural tramline, farmers from all over the country save up to 95 percent of their usual time spent in manual hauling. This faster hauling experience also implies better quality of produce (especially vegetables) when it arrives at the market and new opportunities to improve their farm inputs like the farmers of Tuba, Benguet.

“Dati, gumagamit kami ng synthetic fertilizer dahil kahit ilang sako lang marami na ang malalagyan mo. Pero ngayong may tramline na at madali na ang mga-transport, pwede na kaming gumamit ng chicken dung at iba pa,” said Ignacio Kalinggan, president of Taloy Sur-Bawek Farmers’ Association.



Less cost, more savings

Aside from the express hauling process, tramline has indirectly increased farmer’s income and yield by the reduced hauling cost and losses on farm produce. One significant story of how tramline reduced the cost of hauling is the story of the farmers of Brgy. Sampaloc in Sariaya, Quezon.

“Malaking bagay ang meron nito, gawa ng dati dinadaan pa sa ilaya. Ang gastos nila ay aabutin ng Php150, eh ‘pag dito bale gagastos lang sila ng Php40,” Villela shared. Compared to the original cost of hauling, famers on this area experienced an almost 72 percent drop in hauling cost with the use of the tramline system.

Taloy Sur-Bawek Farmers Association which grows chayote, beans, sweet peas, Chinese pechay, green pepper and sweet potato in Tuba, Benguet, also enjoyed a significant 83 percent drop of their hauling cost of commodities. From P3 per kilo via convoys, now they only have to pay 50 centavos for every kilo of their vegetables in hauling through the tramline system.

One of the problems with manual hauling through convoys or horses is the losses incurred on the produce especially vegetables and bananas. This was the problem of Benguet and Davao farmers which was met by the tramline system.

“Sa manual hauling nasisira yung gulay. Nagagagasgas yung skin ng bagong harvest na patatas. Sa market mas mababa na ang value, iitim kasi (yung patatas). Sa tramline, maiiwasan yung mga pagkasira.” said Cristina Backian, member of the Liang Bunglo Farmers Association in Atok, Benguet.

The farmers of Sinabaddan Kag Tugallan and Barangay Sibulan, Davao City testify how the tramline preserved the quality as well as reduce the losses among their quality export bananas.

“Kapag magtanim ka ng malaki dun (sa kabilang area), mag-aalanganin ka. For example sa saging, saan mo ilalagay ang ganun karami, sinong mag-tatransport kundi ang kabayo. Doon pa lang sa daan marami na ang bruising (Staining or damages), hindi mo na ito maibebenta sa tamang presyo. Ang naitulong ng tramline sa amin, kapag nilagay mo na sa tramline ang iyong mga produkto wala na ang bruising,” said Mr. Ambe, a tribal chieftain of Bagobo sub-tribe Tagabawa.

Reduced losses and lower costs mark significant effect on the income and yield of farmers who adopt this technology. Why would you spend more on manual hauling and take the risk of losses on your produce, if tramline is available? With this system, you have less cost and less losses, thus more savings.


Social implications

The agricultural tramline system is gradually changing the face of upland farming in the Philippines. Now it is easier, cheaper and faster to haul agricultural produce and inputs.

Farmers who are engaged in upland farming are increasing because of the promising advantages of tramline. Landowners who abandoned their land in the mountainous areas see better opportunities again on the highlands, thus untilled lands started to become productive once again and more livelihood potentials are opened.

Farmers in Tuba, Benguet began to till the lands they own in remote areas because of the agricultural tramline. Some expanded their land because of the easier hauling of produce. Some also returned to the area because they saw potentials for livelihood at the highlands.

He said, “Malayo kasi (yung mga lupa) kaya hindi namin sinasaka ang mga lupa namin. Ngayong may tramline na, nakikita nila na mas madali na ang pagsasaka namin. Magaan na ang pagtrabaho namin. Malaki ang naitulong ng tramline sa pag-transport ng karga, kasi malayo ang nilalakad namin noong wala pa ito. Minsan nga, kapag mababa ang presyo ng sayote, hindi na nila hina-harvest kasi malulugi lang sila. May kasamahan pa nga kaming lumipat d’yan sa part ng La Union bumalik na ulit dito, nagtanim na ng sayote d’yan kasi meron nang tramline.”

Sariaya Farmers, on the other hand have experienced increased in the number of members. Farmers also became interested again in coconut farming because of the benefits of the Agricultural Tramline.
Allan Villela, tramline operator, said, “Ang epekto ng tramline sa amin ay dumami yung mga nagsasaka, halos doble ang naidagdag na nagsasaka dahil ang tuwa nila nung nakita nila ang pakinabang ng tramline na ito.”

Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by the officials of Barangay Sibulan in Davao City, more than 18 households have returned to the different sitio’s of the barangay."Mitondo, Sinurungan and Catalilan, because of the impact of tramline in their society.

Roseta Abalayan, the barangay chairwoman, said, “Sa ngayon marami nang bumalik sa area kasi alam na nila yung sa tramline. Sa survey natin, 18 households na ang bumalik na sa area. Ngayon nakita na nila na instead na magbabayad sila ng P2 gamit ang kabayo dati, ngayon nandyan na yung tramline. May advantage sa kanila kasi piso per kilo na nalang.”

Aside from these social effects, this intervention in upland farming has also empowered the people. They learned to be more productive with the available resources they have. Farmers organized themselves in small groups where the values of cooperation, leadership and self-reliance are being developed. They are able to manage and maintain the tramline and create new income opportunities.

Today, an upland farmer refuses to even imagine farming without the agricultural tramline system. Tramline has not only boosted the upland farming in the Philippines, it has significantly improved the lives of every ordinary Filipino farmer in the uplands.


References:

Idago, R.G. and R.F. Rañola. 2009. The Economics of Tramline Transport Facility in the Uplands. Science Research Specialist II, Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension. CLSU, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija and College of Economics and Management, University of the Philippines, Los Baños.

Paz, R.R, G.B. Cael, R.G. Idago and A.F. Macario. 2003. Specialized Training Course on Agricultural Tramline Technology. Unpublished Report. Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension. CLSU, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija and Agricultural Training Institute, La Trinidad, Benguet.