The Sundanese Traditional Ecological Calendar and Socio-cultural Changes: Case Study from Rancakalong of West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

In the past, the Sundanese farmers of West Java, Indonesia, managed wet-rice (sawah) farming using pranata mangsa, the traditional ecological calendar. They cultivated rice varieties that were adapted to local environmental conditions. The pranata mangsa helped in determining the appropriate time to undertake rice farming activities, including preparation of land, planting, and harvesting. All these activities were accompanied by traditional ceremonies. Various natural indicators, such as the constellations of stars, leaf fall of certain plant species, sprouting of tubers, and call of insects, were used to determine the months (mangsa) of the ecological calendar. In addition, the calendar and the embedded traditional knowledge also helped in managing rice pests, prudent utilisation of water in irrigation, and effective utilisation of the social capital of villagers, through communal activities. However, after the Green Revolution, traditional rice cultivation practices changed, leading to the neglect of the pranata mangsa. Revitalising the pranata mangsa with inputs from formal scientific knowledge would help the community practise ecologically sound and economically viable agriculture that is adapted to the local environment and culture.