Dynamics of Farming Serawai People in Bengkulu

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the dynamics of the life of the Serawai people in Bengkulu in farming. The dynamics of a cultivator's life cannot be separated from the cultivation process he does. Farming activities are the core of cultivator's life all the time, which takes place from the preparation process to the utilization of their field products. The method used in this research is descriptive research method with a qualitative approach. The data collection used is observation, interviews and documentation. Data were analyzed using qualitative analysis techniques. The results showed that: 1) Farming in the Serawai people in Bengkulu is the essence of life. Cultivators adapt their life activities to natural conditions, especially soil, seasons and weather as well as social conditions. Land is the most important element in the agricultural production system of the Serawai people. New land is very difficult to obtain now, so gradually it forces cultivators to change their cultivation process. Cultivators believe in natural phenomena is very high, as well as belief in supernatural powers. Farming activities are closely related to the dynamics of the social life of the Serawai people. A system of mutual cooperation and mutual assistance is needed so that work can take place more efficiently; 2) The process of farming for the Serawai people in Bengkulu is carried out through the stages of clearing land, slashing, cutting, building cottages, burning land, planting, maintaining plants, harvesting, distributing and utilizing the results. This study concludes that the dynamics of the life of Serawai cultivators are reciprocally related to the cultivation process, where social life causes the ongoing cultivation process and the farming process itself determines the social life of the community. Social life and farming processes take place dynamically all the time.