This study examines the changes in agriculture in Bali, revealing a notable paradox. On one hand, Balinese farming is renowned for its strong local traditions, such as Subak, Tri Hita Karana, and various symbolic rituals. These traditions are often celebrated as cultural icons and are even incorporated into tourism. On the other hand, farming in Bali faces significant challenges: fewer people are choosing to become farmers, production costs often exceed income, agricultural land is rapidly being converted for other uses, and numerous other difficulties have emerged.

To explore these changes, this research employs oral history, focusing on the memories and experiences of farmers in Badung and Tabanan. The findings reveal substantial transformations in farming life, which can be organised into five themes: Pura, Puri, Para, Purana, and Purohita. By centring farmers’ voices through interviews, this study challenges conventional narratives about Bali and underscores the importance of understanding agriculture from the perspective of local communities.

Speaker

I Kadek Surya Jayadi is a lecturer at the Department of History, Universitas Udayana. His work explores the intersections of art, culture, and history in Bali. Over the years, he has examined the legacy of C. Hooykaas’s work in Bali, presenting his findings at the 2019 international workshop Unpacking Asian Libraries: Collecting Histories and Collecting Networks from Asia to Europe, held in collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada, KITLV Leiden, and the National University of Singapore. He has also been part of Bulian Saa: Exploring the Distinct Characteristics of Ritual Language in North Bali’s Indigenous Community, a collaborative project between Universitas Udayana and the European Union’s Oceanic and Southeast Asian Navigators (OCSEAN) program.  Currently, he is working with KITLV researcher Diana Suhardiman on research into local agricultural ontologies in Bali, delving into the Balinese calendar, ritual practices, folklore, and the oral histories of farmers. Kadek completed his bachelor’s degree in Balinese Literature at Universitas Udayana in 2017 and went on to earn his MA in History at Universitas Gadjah Mada in 2020. 

Discussant

Tody S. J. Utama is a PhD researcher at the Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society, Leiden University, and a lecturer in Adat (Customary) Law at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia. He is interested in law and society issues, particularly in the areas of customary law, vulnerable groups, and legal pluralism. His current research explores the instrumentalization of customary law and institutions by the Indonesian government, focusing on the socio-political context and the strategies used by national and regional institutions to recognize, incorporate, and utilize adat. Previously, he was involved in research projects on the recognition of Indigenous communities, the legalization of customary tenure, and the intersections of adat with gender and disability. Some of his work is available here.

Moderator

Wigke Sukmana Putri is a PhD researcher in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (CADS) at Leiden University and KITLV. Her research focuses on enriching refusal theory and methodology concerning ecological future-making involving more-than-human entities in Java, Indonesia. Additionally, her work and activism encompass political ecology, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Indigenous peoples, gender issues, and LGBTQ topics. 

Image

The Ganesha heritage statue stands in the middle of the rice fields near Pura Kebo Edan. Today, it also serves as a shrine where farmers pray for protection of their crops against pests. Photo by Pusat Kajian Bali, 2014.

Flyer