Siwa Nandisawahanamurti : Kearifan Lokal Petani Dieng

Abstract

Dieng plateau is one of several renowned tourism sites in Indonesia which offer cultural and natural beauty as well as agricultural landscape. Farmers in this area are mostly growing vegetables in which potato has been the most prominent. Nonetheless, the effort to increase potato production in Dieng through intensification and land expansion has exposed the land to potential soil erosion and degradation. This is theoretically harmful for maintaining its agricultural sustainability. Better understanding and implementation of Dieng local wisdom such as Siwa Nandisawahanamurti could inhibit soil degradation rate. This research aims to: 1. Describe current soil characteristics of Dieng potato farms and 2. Narrate the local wisdom “Siwa Nandisawahanamurti” and translate it into feasible practices of potato cropping system in Dieng plateau. This paper is constructed based on on-site observation and in-depth interview with local farmers as well as literature study. The result showed that: (1) there is an indication of soil quality setback as indicated by soil fertility and erosion status and (2) local wisdom” Siwa Nandisawahanamurti” is best translated into concerted husbandry, hedgerow plantation along terrace cliff, and controlled animal manure application in potato production of Dieng highland