Tobacco is a very promising plantation commodity. In the form of cigarette excise, tobacco contributes more than 100 trillion rupiah in national income. However, the welfare of tobacco farmers as producers of cigarette raw materials is not proportional to their contribution. Despite this, farmers continue to farm tobacco despite the availability of other alternative agricultural commodities. In Temanggung Regency, which is nicknamed the Tobacco City, the situation is not much different. Local farmers have the opposite perception of tobacco. Among the local community, myths circulate that tobacco can bring high welfare to farmers, so it is called “green gold”, the plant of the “saints”, and various ritual practices such as ngalap berkah (seeking blessings) in the process of planting and processing tobacco.

Starting from this social phenomenon, the UGM Student Creativity Programme (PKM) team in the field of Social Humanities Research consisting of Abdila (History 2020), Wahyu Lestariningsih (Cultural Anthropology 2020), Devina Savana Putri (Economics 2021), and Ana Fitro Tunnisa (Social Development and Welfare (2022) accompanied by Dr Hempri Suyatna, S.Sos., M.Si conducted research with the title “Between Poverty and Ngalap Berkah Myth: Contradictions in Perceptions of Welfare of Temanggung Tobacco Farmers.” To obtain data, the team conducted in-depth observations and interviews in Tlogomulyo Sub-district, Temanggung Regency, Central Java in two months, July and September 2023. The team also conducted historical data research, and social welfare data research at BPS and the Temanggung District Social Service, and completed a secondary literature review.

By combining ethnographic and historical approaches, it was found that the middlemen’s entrapment and the involvement of the Chinese in the region are a vital part of the formation of tobacco myths, such as those about Ki Ageng Makukuhan and Saudagar Dampu Awang who are well well-known (and even sacred) among local farmers. The team also found that farmers form an inverse perception of the reality of the tobacco economy. There are several unfavourable conditions in the tobacco economy including the unpredictable selling price of tobacco, the strong dependence on extreme weather to produce good tobacco and avoid crop failure, the cessation of fertiliser subsidies due to tobacco policy, and unhealthy capital with middlemen at 50% interest rate known as nglimolasi system (borrow 10 pay 15). However, farmers continue to grow tobacco hoping for abundant sustenance at the beginning of each planting year, pinning their hopes for life and the future of their children and grandchildren on tobacco, and showing an emotional-spiritual connection to tobacco that tobacco is more than just a commodity.

As a plant of the saints, tobacco is also a blessing so farmers’ steadfastness in all economic conditions and continuing to cultivate tobacco and treat tobacco with its own speciality is part of the spiritual-emotional attachment in an effort to seek blessings. In this behaviour, the team found three dimensions of the subjective well-being of Temanggung tobacco farmers, including the harmony dimension, the social relationship dimension, and the environmental dimension. The harmony dimension is obtained when, for example, farmers work together in traditional ceremonies. The social relationship dimension is fulfilled by the feeling of happiness when they can help each other during picking season, as well as the attitude of solidarity among fellow farmers to fight for common welfare in the tobacco trade during harvest season.

The subjective welfare of the environmental dimension, for example, is the belief that welfare comes from the environment, namely in the form of fertile land, as well as the belief that natural elements are considered as living entities that are more than humans, thus forming the culture of selamatan ceremonies for the earth. Although material/economic welfare has various obstacles, Temanggung tobacco farmers have another source of welfare, namely subjective welfare that creates happiness for tobacco farmers and resistance to various challenges.

Writer: Abdila (History 2020) and Devina (Economics 2021)

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences received a visit from the French Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, YM Fabien Penone, on Thursday, 5 October 2023. Also present were Jules Irrmann as Director of Institut Français Indonesia (COCAC) and François Dabin (Director of IFI-LIP Yogyakarta). The guests were welcomed by the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Dr Nur Saktiningrum and several lecturers of the French Language and Literature Study Programme; Dr Hayatul Cholsy, Dr Aprillia Firmonasari, Dr Arifah Arum Candra H., and Ari Bagus Panuntun, S.S., M.A..

Monday (2/10/2023) The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada recently hosted a discussion on Critical Island Studies with 12 universities from across Asia such as Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan. Scholars, researchers, and experts in the field of cultural studies gathered to discuss the cultural, social, economic, and environmental challenges that island communities face. They explored interdisciplinary research and collaboration as a means to address these challenges. The participants discussed several topics: sustainable development, cultural preservation, climate change, and social justice. 

UGM Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Wening Udasmoro, said the event aimed to strengthen perspectives on equality and natural issues. “It is in line with SDGs goals 5 (gender equality), 10 (sustainable cities and settlements), 13 (climate change management), 14 (marine ecosystems), and 15 (terrestrial ecosystems),” said Wening in her statement on Wednesday (4/10/2023).

Wening also mentioned that Critical Island Studies is a relatively new field in Indonesia, and the participants’ spirit and engagement were quite remarkable. The event provided an excellent opportunity for participants to learn and exchange ideas on how to address some of the most pressing issues facing our planet. The discussions centred around critical island studies, a field that examines the relationship between islands and the environment, including the challenges and opportunities that come with it

“More than 100 presenters sent their abstracts with studies from various perspectives. More than half of the CIS presenters came from abroad, namely from the Philippines, Japan, Australia, South Korea, China, the Netherlands, and Taiwan,” she said.

Keynote speakers of the conference are an archaeologist from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM Daud Aris Tanudirdjo, and a professor from Ateneo de Manila University Oscar Campomanes. The two-day event at UGM and Sanata Dharma also included the signing of a cooperation agreement to strengthen the Critical Island Studies consortium and the Asian Journal Network meeting.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences is hosting a seminar that is set to be an insightful and informative event for those concerned about child welfare and education. The seminar is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 21 September 2023. This seminar was convened by Dr Agus Suwignyo (from the Department of History) and featured two distinguished keynote speakers who will address pressing issues related to children’s education by religious organizations in Indonesia during the 1880s-1980s.

The two speakers have impressive backgrounds and expertise in their respective fields. First on the list is Prof. dr. Marit Monteiro, an expert in colonial and postcolonial educational practices. Prof. Monteiro will speak about “Child Segregation,” exploring some conceptual frameworks surrounding this topic and shedding light on the historical context of the issue. Her insights are sure to be enlightening for anyone seeking to understand the root causes of child segregation and how it can be addressed.

The second speaker, Dr. Maaike Derksen, will present cases from Java and Papua New Guinea, highlighting the challenges children’s institutions and orphanages face. Dr. Derksen has extensive experience working with various organizations that deal with child welfare issues in Indonesia and the surrounding regions. Her presentation is expected to be informative and insightful, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by children’s institutions and orphanages.

The seminar came out as an engaging and thought-provoking event, with attendees encouraged to register in advance to secure their spot. With two distinguished speakers, the event is sure to be a valuable opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about children’s education, welfare, and the challenges faced by religious organizations in Indonesia during the 1880s-1980s.

Friday, 29 September 2023, the Department of Anthropology held a public lecture class entitled “Pursuing a Career in Defence and Security”. This forum presented a speaker who has a career in defence and security, namely one of the investigators of the South Jakarta Metro Police, Brigadier Eko Hardiyanto, S. Ant., M.A.. Brigadier Eko is an Alumni of the Cultural Anthropology study programme in 2010. The forum was hosted by one of the Anthropology lecturers, Dr Pande Made Kutanegara, M.Si.

Brigadier Eko told how he got his job. Brigadier Eko also explained how he carried out his work as an investigator, some examples are as follows. First, the title of the case to provide legal certainty for the case being handled. Second, conducting appeals to the public regarding law enforcement and crime. Third, increasing the competence capacity of investigators through training.

In this forum Brigadier Eko also explained how the contribution of Anthropology studies in carrying out his work as a legal investigator. Participatory observation is one of the techniques used by Brigadier Eko in conducting investigations. “My frequent research experience in Anthropology has given me the knowledge on how to get data from the people we investigate. I also know whether the person is speaking the facts or not.”

Brigadier Eko also uses data triangulation techniques in processing investigation data. Brigadier Eko combines various data from various sources, which are then made into conclusions to decide the status of the case.

The discussion forum was made even more epic by the presence of fellow students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences and alumni of the Cultural Anthropology study programme. Alumni who attended this forum also enlivened the discussion by sharing their respective career experiences. Such as Rudy Gunawan Erwinsyah who works as a researcher at the Indonesian National Research Agency and Ahmad Pradipta who also works in the field of defence and security.