La trinidad: The municipality of La Trinidad in Benguet, known for being the strawberry capital due to its high yield, aside from other agricultural commodities, is expected to triple its production with the adoption of the "raised bed-technology."

According to Philippines News Agency, Nida Organo, municipal agriculture officer of La Trinidad, stated that by using this technology, the yield will reach 1.5 kg per plant, compared to between 300 grams and 500 grams using the traditional method of ground planting. The elevated planting method will triple the land area, with the topmost tier measuring about four feet high.

Organo mentioned, "We are proposing the adoption of the raised bed technology, which has been proven to be adaptable in the municipality. That is what we are recommending if farmers can afford or maybe the government can fund it." The estimated capitalization for a 1-square-meter by 10-square-meter area is around PHP10,000, utilizing steel for the structure and polyethylene plastic for the layers.

"The initial capital is quite high but the gain from the succeeding years will be good," Organo explained. The benefits from the raised bed planting include maximized use of the land, high potential for planting, no pollution from the water source, absence of possible defecation by stray animals, and no weeds, making it less labor-intensive.

The proposal for the technology extends to the whole La Trinidad Valley, not just the strawberry farm in Barangay Betag. Besides strawberries, the raised bed method is also applicable for green and leafy vegetables, such as different varieties of lettuce, which are also cultivated at the strawberry farm.

Mayor Roderick Osis, in a meet the press session on Thursday, noted that the raised bed technology is a short-term solution they are considering to address the damage at the strawberry farm due to persistent flooding in the area.