SUSTAINABLE SAGO PLANTATIONS BASED ON LOCAL WISDOM IN INDRAGIRI HILIR REGENCY, RIAU PROVINCE, INDONESIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31413/nat.v13i4.19914Keywords:
local knowledge, scientific local wisdom, sago sustainabilityAbstract
The development of tidal swamp land for sago plantations is a potential source of food for future generations. Sago is a native plant of Indonesia that has the highest carbohydrate content and can grow properly in flooded conditions. Through management considering local wisdom, sago plantations in Indonesia have survived for several years despite limited infrastructure, global climate change, lack of government policy support, and changes in community food preferences for rice and wheat. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of management practices on the sustainability of sago plantations and analyze local wisdom values. The research was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024 in Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau Province, because sago has been planted in this area for hundreds of years with locally wise management. A mixed method with explanatory sequential design was employed, namely a combination of quantitative analysis with the Structural Equation Modeling - Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) and qualitative analysis with the Miles-Huberman approach. The results showed that local wisdom was in the form of local knowledge, socio-spiritual values, and community norms. This local wisdom existed from the pre-planting to the marketing of the harvest. Furthermore, local knowledge as well as social values and norms had a significant effect on sustainability, but current harvesting and water management practices are not optimal. The results suggested that practices in water management and harvesting required innovation to be more effective and increase plantation productivity through collaboration with science-based knowledge and formal regulatory systems.
Keywords: local knowledge; scientific local wisdom; sago sustainability.
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