by Noel T. Provido

Davao City (17 July) -- Vegetable farming in Maragusan, Compostela Valley Province will be given a boost as a tramline system will soon be established in their area.

Considered to be the first in Mindanao, the tramline system will be used to transport agricultural products particularly vegetables from mountainous areas of Maragusan to nearby roads and markets.

Tramline technology in farming is an alternative means of hauling farmers' produce using cables and pulleys to transport products from inaccessible farms to the nearest road network.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap in his visit over the weekend has turned-over P5.1 million worth of checks to Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy and Maragusan Mayor Cesar Colina.

"Tramlines are considered as more practical and speedy modes of transporting vegetables, especially in areas that could not be reached by road networks. It is designed to help farmers who have a hard time transporting their produce to the nearest roads," Yap said, adding:

"The transport system is cost-effective, considering the huge financial requirement in building roads in the area."

DA regional director Roger Chio said his office through the High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) program had long seen the potentials of Maragusan to be a major vegetable producing area in the region.

"Maragusan's cool climate is suited for production of high value vegetables. The only limitation for vegetable expansion is that most of the areas are in the highlands making it difficult for farmers to transport their produce," Chio said.

Chio said through the technology being promoted by the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), an attached bureau under DA, the HVCC program in the region collaborated with the Compostela Valley provincial government and Maragusan local government to establish three agricultural tramlines in the said town.

Speaking on behalf of the farmer beneficiaries Maragusan Mayor Cesar Colina said the establishment of tramline system will significantly improve postharvest handling of vegetable production in their town.

"About 30 to 40 percent of the market value of our upland farmers' products goes to hauling alone. Improper handling of vegetables also affects the quality of their products which results to cheaper buying price," Colina said.