Where The Rice Whispers

In the middle of Halimun Salak National Park, West Java, Indonesia, the community of Kasepuhan Ciptagelar live their lives in harmony with nature by relying on agriculture. Their production of rice is able to support the needs of the entire community, owing to the local economy constitution known as the leuit system or rice barn. According to data from 2008, Kasepuhan Ciptagelar is inhabited by 293 people consisting of 84 heads of families with 151 men and 142 women. Apart from Kasepuhan Ciptagelar, in this area there are also Kasepuhan Cisungsang, Kasepuhan Cisitu, Kasepuhan Cicarucub, Kasepuhan Citorek, Kasepuhan Sirnaresmi, Kasepuhan Ciptamulya, Kasepuhan Cibedug, and many more. In general, some of these Kasepuhan are tied to the same collection of historical narratives.

In their motherland, rice is a sacred commodity where its value is not measured in the common economic system, but spiritual value. Buying and selling rice means selling their pride and violates their local wisdom that has been passed down for generations. This belief is considered able to form food security for the village without having to depend on the state system. 

Through their heritage, Ciptagelar shows us that food is a human right, and everyone must have access to safe, and nutritious food, both in quantity and quality in order to ensure a dignified human life.

Text Editor : Yusni Aziz