Memedi sawah: environmentally friendly scarecrows for paddy fields

Abstract

Four decades ago, memedi sawah or traditional scarecrows were commonly used to repel rice-eating sparrows in paddy fields in Java. Nowadays, many farmers use plastic sheets, a non-environmentally friendly material, tied to rows of bamboo sticks in the paddy field to repel sparrows. Memedi sawah is now transformed into works of art and displayed in prestigious art galleries. This study aimed to bring back memedi sawah made from environmental-friendly materials to the paddy fields. The production was done by implementing environmental-friendly design principles and the concept of aèng, a theory of creating Javanese cultural arts. The result of this study is expected to help farmers in protecting paddy plants while preserving the cultural values and spirit of the local community.