DENPASAR, Bali (BPN) – The Ministry of Culture held the Temu Budaya Subak, a forum that discusses the sustainability of Subak, Bali’s traditional agricultural system and organisation, held at the Udayana University, Denpasar, on Monday (November 11).
At the event, which is part of the Subak Spirit Festival 2024, it was revealed that the Subak system and traditional agriculture in Bali are currently facing threats from water source damage, reduced irrigation water supply, land conversion, decreasing soil fertility, a shortage of productive labor, the lack of regeneration among Subak members, the diminishing economic value of rice agricultural products and its economic networks, environmental pressures, and disaster risks in Bali.
According to the Chairman of the Bali PHRI (Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association) Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, popularly known as Cok Ace, the tourism industry is not the main cause of the decreasing agricultural land, especially as tourism in Bali is currently reliant on the sustainability of culture, customs, and traditions.
“Cultural-based tourism management must be in line with the preservation of Balinese culture. It is clear that when talking about tourism as a threat to farmers, that’s actually not the case. I disagree with the idea that Bali should change; let’s hold on to what has been inherited,” said Cok Ace.
Cok Ace emphasized that the Subak system has already become an integral part of Balinese culture, which has grown strong over time.
For this reason, according to Cok Ace, Bali needs a more specific scheme to protect Subak, of which the government needs to regulate how to provide subsidies to farmers.
“Those who practice traditional farming, still bound by traditional concepts, should be given subsidies so that we can continue to see Subak in Bali,” he stated.
According to Cok Ace, one potential source of funding is the levy on foreign tourists, which can be used for cultural preservation, including sustaining the Subak system.
Meanwhile, the head of the Subak, Social Economic Division of Udayana University, Prof. Dr. Ir. I Ketut Suamba, MP., said that the wetland Subak in Bali, spans 1,596 hectares. However, recently, there has been a shift toward “tegalan” (dry land) Subak.
“But the most significant challenge is faced by the irrigation-based Subak, the rice fields. While the Subak organization itself hasn’t diminished, what is decreasing is the area of land owned by each Subak, much of which has been converted for other purposes,” said Ketut Suamba.
The reduction in the size of Subak lands is particularly evident in urban areas, where land is being converted into housing.
The UNESCO World Heritage inscription for the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: The Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy (2012) is an international recognition of the Subak system as a legacy of the Balinese ancestors in developing Bali’s ecosystem and managing water resources for rice farming.
This world cultural heritage is represented by five sites, namely Ulun Danu Temple, Batur Lake, Pakerisan River Basin Subak Landscape, Caturangga Batukaru Subak Landscape, and Taman Ayun Temple.
