Research collaboration is encouraged by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada recently. One such research collaboration is a research project between the Department of Anthropology UGM and the Department of Cultural Anthropology Udayana, which took the topic of “Balinese Local Genius: Key to Stunting Reduction in Pedawa, Bali.”. This research was funded by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM and is part of an implementation of SDG Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

The research was conducted by four researchers: Atik Triratnawati and Novitasari Ardianti from UGM, and Aliffiati and Azzahra Alivya Prasetio from Udayana University. The research was conducted in Pedawa Village, Buleleng, a Bali Aga village that maintains traditional lifestyles and parenting practices. The research was conducted in June, August, and September 2023.

The research findings showed that Balinese local genius, which is still strongly held by the Pedawa community, positively impacts the health of mothers and babies. This is evident in the community’s adherence to adat or the culture, such as following a series of birth ceremonies, using local ingredients as the main food source for toddlers, and the emergence of gender equality in the family. The success of stunting reduction in this village is also supported by modern medical services, including midwifery agencies, the success of the Family Planning program (Keluarga Berencana Program), and the strong empowerment of cadres. 

The current threat of a food crisis is being responded to by various parties. The development of alternative food such as the processing of konjac is being attempted by the Community Service Team of the Department of Anthropology. The team consists of Dr. Atik Triratnawati, M.A., Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A., Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi, M.A., along with two students named Eka Yuniati and Ferdy Azmal Fakhrani. This community service program is a continuation of the previous year’s program with the same theme, “Development of Konjac-based Culinary in Karangpatihan Village, Ponorogo Regency, East Java.” The continuation of the program took place in August 2023 in four hamlets: Krajan, Selodono, Dungus, and Jurugan.

Konjac, or in Indonesia is called porang, was chosen as an alternative food because it is a local Indonesian commodity which has great potential in the international market. For example, what has been done in Madiun, one kilogram of konjac can cost up to Rp. 14,000. One hectare of fertile land can produce around 80 tons of tubers for one harvest within two years. One of the most popular products made by konjac is shirataki rice, which has a high selling price. Konjac grows a lot in Ponorogo and there is one of the programs initiated by the Ponorogo Regional Government which aims to provide stimulants in the form of seeds and supporting the existence of a konjac farmer association. Other than that, Perhutani, which is a State-Owned Enterprise in the Form of Public Company which focuses on the task and authority to manage state forest resources, also provides access to farmers to plant konjac around perennial crops. Based on this fact, the community service team conducted training assistance in processing konjac-based food. In addition, a cooking competition was also held to motivate the locals to be more enthusiastic in creating innovations related to this food recipe. Then the activity was closed with a focus group discussion (FGD) to listen to the aspirations of women who joined the family welfare movement (PKK)  in the four hamlets, Karangpatihan Village, Pulung District, Ponorogo Regency. This program needs to be done because, until now, the society perceives that konjac can cause an itchy feeling. By implementing this community service program, the community will develop a new perspective that konjac has many benefits. Apart from that, we really hope that the dissemination of knowledge and skills can make konjac-based food into an alternative food in Ponorogo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image 1.1: Dawet porang: one of the konjac-based culinary that has been taught to the members of PKK in Karangpatihan Village, Pulung, Ponorogo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image 1.2: Various kinds of konjac-based culinary made by one of the groups who participated in the competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image 1.3: The winners of the development of a konjac-based culinary competition.

 

Ending 2023, the FCS UGM English Literature Pradangga (Prasasti) gamelan group will perform in two places. Saturday, December 30, 2023, invited by the Wonogiri Regency Youth and Sports Department to perform at the 2023 Creative Economy Festival (Fesmikraf). The activity was centered in the Wonogiri City Square, starting at 16.00 and ending at 22.30.

The annual festival was attended by 12 art groups, most of whom were junior high school students and art studios. Prasasti is the only student group that comes from outside the Wonogiri Regency. The gamelan group led by Jardin Urbania Basundoro was allowed to go on stage at 21.00.

After the performance in Wonogiri, Prasasti was invited by the Indonesian Art Lovers and Artists Student Forum (Formatasindo) to perform on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2023. The arts performance activity entitled 12th Gamelan Parade 2023, is an annual activity initiated by the Trustee of Formatasindo, Dr.Sukisno, M.Pd. Activities are always placed at the Omah Tinggi Arts and Culture, Tritunggal Cultural Area, Tegalcorocanan Solodiran Manisrenggo Klaten.

The 12th Gamelan Parade which took place from 13.00 and ended at 01.00, was attended by 20 gamelan groups from various universities in Yogyakarta. Prasasti is one of the gamelan groups representing FIB UGM to perform this activity.

On that occasion, Prasasti performed two songs, respectively entitled Naliswati and Hyang, which were the works of Nanang Karbito. Nanang Karbito is an Inscription trainer daily. The man from Klaten is a composer of contemporary musical songs.

Naliswati tells the story of a couple’s relationship which fails halfway, while Hyang is a song that glorifies the glory of God. Through the song Hyang, humans are reminded to always remember the greatness and all the gifts from Almighty God.

Jardin Urbania Basundoro, who was interviewed by the MC after the performance, said that Prasasti is a gamelan group that has existed for a long time at FIB UGM. This group brings together English Literature students who are interested in practicing and playing gamelan which is a noble legacy of their ancestors. Through this activity, students are directed to carry out positive activities while practicing gentleness.

Author: Prof. Dr. Purnawan Basundoro, S.S., M.Hum.

Warm Greetings from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM

Happy New Year!

On behalf of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, we pray that this new year will bring blessings and success to all of us. Welcoming 2024, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for our cooperation so far. Hopefully, this new year will further strengthen our partnership and cooperation.

Thank You.

Warm regards,
Dean and the entire FIB UGM Family