Laguna agri tramline inaugurated

MANILA, Philippines—A P6-million Agricultural Tramline System is now available in Nagcarlan, Laguna, to help farmers transport their produce to the market faster and save on transportation costs, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The 1.8-kilometer tramline in Nagcarlan is one of 106 systems that the department intends to put up this year.

These alternative transport systems are put up in areas isolated from road networks because of obstacles, which include ravines, rivers and dense vegetation. The tramline system uses cables and pulleys to bring agricultural products and farm inputs from isolated farms to and from the nearest road.

With the tramline system in place, Nagcarlan farmers could save P1,000 to P1,500 per hectare for hauling and transportation expenses, according to the DA.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who led the turnover of the Nagcarlan tramline system to the beneficiaries, also urged Laguna officials to consider putting up a packaging house near the tramline so that this could be used as a “bagsakan center” or a place where all produce would be brought.

Alcala said that with the cooperation of the farmers and the government, the agriculture industry in an area could thrive.

“This is part of our program to strengthen the economy of the upland community through a comprehensive and technically precise upland agricultural development blueprint. At the heart of our vision for the uplands is a strong partnership between national and local governments, and between the government and other sectors,” he said in a statement.

Alcala also directed Regional Executive Director Abelardo Bragas to help the Nagcarlan farmers with technical and marketing assistance. The DA should link them with trading posts and other markets in Southern Luzon and Metro Manila, he added.

The farmers should also be trained on organic farming so that they could make their own organic fertilizers and help maintain the productivity of farm soil, he further said.

Alcala also raffled off 10 horses for the farmers as another means of transporting their products and farm implements.