The Practices of Traditional knowledge and Wisdom by Multi-Ethnics on Swidden Agriculture of Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Local wisdom and traditional knowledge have so far been neglected in the management of natural resources, especially in swidden agriculture or shifting cultivation (in Indonesian term so called ladang), whereas in reality there are still many communities of swiddeners practicing these traditional wisdom and knowledge. To promote an ecologically friendly agricultural system, this traditional wisdom plays an important role because it does not use chemicals that can damage the environment. However, there are still many local wisdoms, especially in farming practices that carried out by different ethnic groups in Indonesia, that have not been identified and have not been integrated so that they have not provided great benefits for environmentally and friendly agriculture. The objectives of the research are: (1) to explore traditional knowledge and wisdoms that believed by multiple ethnics on the practicing of Swidden Agriculture; and (2) to integrate the various traditional knowledge and wisdoms at every stage of work in swidden agriculture to improve rice productivity

This research was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021 in Kalimantan, especially the Provinces of East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan, Indonesia. This research is a qualitative descriptive study. Data and information were collected by in-depth interviews with 15 key informants who mastered traditional agricultural wisdom from different ethnicities and sub-ethnicities. The data were analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis.

The results showed that the farming system was still widely practiced in the tropics by several ethnic groups who generally live in inland areas and utilize land and forests that are large enough for farming. In this cultivation system, various local wisdoms and knowledge are identified in practicing the swidden agriculture starting from the stages of looking for land, determining soil fertility, cutting, burning, controlling pests, harvesting and storing rice, especially rice for preparation of seeds for planting in the following year. The results of the research have also integrated various local knowledge and wisdom that are practiced by various ethnic groups at each activity stage so that when they combined, it can increase the production and productivity of upland rice and as a form of sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.

It is recommended that upland rice and upland rice farmers can adopt traditional wisdom from different ethnicities which are considered appropriate to local conditions. The government is also expected to acknowledge and support the practice of local wisdom in farming and utilizing forests as a form of environmental preservation.