AGRO-PASTORAL AND PRESERVATION OF LOCAL WISDOM BONDANG FOR AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY IN ASAHAN, NORTH SUMATRA

Abstract

Based on the resource potential, agropastoral is the right cultivation system implemented in Asahan. With such a system, all resources are interconnected with their benefits so that optimum production, sustainable environment, and enhancing economic and social sustainability. As with the system of plasma plantation owned by the people whose management is assisted by the company (as the core plantation). Large expanses of grass are also widely used for livestock feed. The advantage is, weeds in the field become decreased, cattle dung is also able to improve soil fertility. In this case, the agropastoral system occurs. This pattern unfortunately does not occur systematically in the palm oil fields. Usually companies and plasma prefer to focus on one commodity, that is oil palm or rubber, rather than simultaneously take care of livestock. Each region certainly has local wisdom with benefits that could be better than modern farming systems. Although Asahan since the early 20^th century has been attached to the plantation, which is a modern agricultural system, but there is still local wisdom that until now encountered. One of the famous in Asahan is Bondang. Bondang is a term in Malay to refer to land. Bondang originated from the village of Silo Lama, Air Joman Subdistrict. The activity of Bondang both at start and closing in general can be seen in several stages of the process: chicken pieces; counsel from the traditional leaders about the significance of Bondang, zikr and prayer, dialogue with supernatural powers, tepung tawar (blessing using flour) to seeds. It's just, of course adjust in sharing point of view. Including religious viewpoints which do not allow to offer “sacrifice” for any reason, such as cutting off chicken sacrifice in a tradition of Bondang.