Snake Fruit In Bali, Indonesia: How Locals Are Preserving And Promoting It | CNA Correspondent

Key Concepts

• Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAS)
• Sibetan Customary Village Salak Agroforestry System
• Salak (Snake Fruit)
• Trihitakarana (Harmony and Balance with God, Others, and Nature)
• Awig-Awig (Traditional Village Customs and Laws)
• Agroforestry System (Five Strata System)
• Salak Varieties (e.g., Gula Pasir/Sugar Variant, Primadonna)
• Off-Season vs. Peak Season Pricing
• Salak-Based Products (Tea, Coffee, Dates, Wine, Vinegar, Pickles)
• Agrotourism
• Seedling Propagation and Certification
• Land Conversion (Alih Fungsi Lahan)

Sibetan Salak Agroforestry System: A Globally Important Agricultural Heritage

The Sibetan Customary Village Salak Agroforestry System in Karang Asam Regency, Bali, Indonesia, has been recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAS). This recognition highlights the sustainable food system blueprint provided by age-old practices. The system is located about 15 km from Mount Agung, Bali's highest peak, in the island's driest region.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Historical records indicate that the first Salak palm tree was planted in the 14th century by Jeroduku Sakti, a traditional healer and priest. This legacy is carried on by the local community. Traditional village customs and laws, known as Awig-Awig, guide the practice of the Balinese philosophy of Trihitakarana, which emphasizes harmony and balance with God, others, and nature. An example of Awig-Awig is the requirement to obtain permission from the village before cutting down a jackfruit tree, as it is considered a source of life for the community.

Salak Cultivation and Agroforestry Practices

Salak, also known as snake fruit, is native to Indonesia. The fruit grows in clusters at the base of the trees and has a brown, scaly, and slightly spiky skin. The flesh is moist, crunchy, and has a sweet, sour, and slightly acidic taste. Karang Asam Regency boasts the highest number of salak varieties in the world, with Inangarso growing 12 of them.

Salak production relies on shade plants and rainwater collection areas. The agroforestry system combines other crops in a five-strata system. This landscape plays a crucial role in carbon absorption, runoff reduction, and groundwater filtration. It also serves as a water catchment area, supplying water to approximately 1,000 hectares of rice fields supporting 10 villages along the Buhu River.

The process of growing salak from seed is lengthy, taking up to 4-5 years to bear fruit. The seeds are soaked for a day, then placed in a "pobag" (nursery) for six months before being transplanted to the field.

Economic Challenges and Innovations

While salak is the main source of income for many in Jungutan Village, price fluctuations pose a significant challenge. During peak season, prices can drop as low as Rp 2,000-3,000 per kilogram, making it difficult for farmers to cover production costs. Off-season prices are more profitable, with regular varieties fetching around Rp 10,000 and the sugar variant double that price.

To address these challenges, farmers are exploring alternative income sources and innovative business ideas. These include:

• Salak-based products: Inyo Manastra Kongking produces tea, coffee, dates, wine, and vinegar from salak. He aims to utilize excess salak during the harvest season to create value-added products.
• Salak Pickles (Asinan Salak): Niwayan Srinik brines her salak supply, turning it into a type of pickle. Her business processes up to 16 tons of salak during the harvest season, which are then shipped to Jakarta. Before brining, smaller salak fruits were discarded, but now they can be processed into pickles.
• Agrotourism: Inakarsinaya has ventured into agrotourism, showcasing the red salak variety to visitors. He has seen positive responses from tourists from Australia, America, England, and India, with an average of 100 visitors per month.
• Salak Beer: Young farmers are experimenting with using locally sourced salak in their beers. However, the unfamiliarity of salak outside of Bali presents a marketing challenge.

Government and Community Efforts for Sustainability

Authorities acknowledge that marketing is a key challenge after cultivation. They emphasize the high economic, ecological, social, and cultural value of salak Bali and are committed to its preservation. Efforts include:

• Providing assistance to farmers from upstream to downstream.
• Avoiding land conversion (alih fungsi lahan).
• Exploring the possibility of establishing cold storage facilities to stabilize prices.
• Developing action plans and regulations to protect and distribute local food, including salak.

The local education agency has been tasked with creating a curriculum to encourage farming among the youth. Schools in Sibetan Village are incorporating agriculture and plant lessons, including practical demonstrations on preparing and planting salak seedlings. The goal is to instill pride in the younger generation and encourage them to continue the legacy of their ancestors.

Seedling Propagation and Certification

Iketut Latra, a snake fruit plant propagator, has been farming for over 20 years. He holds an official permit to create seeds through the Bali Provincial Agriculture Agency's seed supervision and certification center. He cultivates various salak varieties, including the Primadonna (sugar variant), and sold 15,000 seedlings last year. He emphasizes the importance of providing high-quality seedlings and proper farming techniques to ensure the sustainability of salak cultivation and encourage young farmers to continue the tradition.

Geographical Uniqueness

The sugar variant of the snake fruit is said to only reach its optimum quality when grown in Karang Asam Regency, Bali.

Conclusion

The Sibetan Customary Village Salak Agroforestry System exemplifies a sustainable agricultural model that integrates cultural heritage, biodiversity conservation, and economic livelihoods. While challenges remain, particularly in marketing and price stabilization, the community's innovative spirit, combined with government support and educational initiatives, offers hope for the continued preservation and prosperity of this unique agricultural system. The GIAS recognition serves as a testament to the value of traditional practices and a potential blueprint for other agricultural systems worldwide.