Abstract
Local rice varieties such as Bubuk, Mamut and Bali not only serve as a staple food but has a unique preference among the Ibans in Sarawak. This study explores Sarawak’s traditional rice varieties in Kampung Bunga Raya, Banting, Batang Lupar, Sarawak, Malaysia and its impact on production patterns, social organisation, consumption and technology adoption. Through observation, interview and in-depth discussion, the findings show that by maintaining conventional cultivation practices, the community believes that the authenticity and taste of local rice can be preserved. Furthermore, findings demonstrated that apart from the technical characteristics, cultural aspects such as the range of shared values, social ties and norms influence the farmers’ mode of production and consumption of the local rice varieties. This belief has resulted in a pattern
of self-sufficiency production and a low level of modern technology acceptance among the community in the observed area. In addition, further studies regarding the role of bejalai practice would be worthwhile to fully understand the impact of the custom, particularly on mode of production and adoption of modern mechanisation in future.
Abstrak
Varieti beras tempatan seperti Bubuk, Mamut dan Bali bukan sahaja berfungsi sebagai makanan asas/ruji tetapi mempunyai ciri-ciri unik di kalangan orang Iban di Sarawak. Kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengenal pasti varieti beras tradisional di Kampung Bunga Raya, Banting, Batang Lupar, Sarawak, Malaysia serta impaknya terhadap corak pengeluaran, organisasi sosial, penggunaan dan penerimaan teknologi. Melalui pemerhatian, temuramah dan perbincangan secara mendalam, hasil kajian mendapati bahawa komuniti tersebut percaya hanya dengan amalan penanaman secara konvensional, ketulenan dan rasa beras tempatan mampu dikekalkan. Selain ciri-ciri teknikal, aspek budaya seperti perkongsian nilai, ikatan sosial dan norma kehidupan mempengaruhi mod pengeluaran dan penggunaan varieti beras tempatan. Kepercayaan ini menjelaskan pembentukan corak pengeluaran sara diri dan penerimaan teknologi moden yang rendah dalam kalangan komuniti yang diperhatikan. Kajian lanjut berkenaan peranan adat bejalai juga dilihat berguna bagi memahami impak adat tradisi turun-temurun oleh komuniti ini terhadap mod pengeluaran dan penggunaan teknologi mekanisasi moden pada masa akan datang.