BERAKHIRNYA FRONTIR PERTANIAN: KAJIAN HISTORIS WILAYAH BESUKI, 1870-1970
ABSTRACT: This article
discusses the agricultural sector of Besuki from an environmental history
perspective. The theoretical framework upon which the analysis is built is
taken from frontier theories as developed by Turner in the context of American
historical experience and Butcher in the context of Southeast Asia. Drawing
upon primary and secondary historical source materials, the article argues that
the development of the agricultural frontier of Besuki resulted from a
combination factors of demography, echnology and overseas market as the driving
forces. The inflows of migrant made it possible to exploit the widely available
and uncultivated lands for developing commercial crops induced demands from the
international markets, and facilitated by the improved technology. The
agricultural sector of Besuki translated human agency as an environmental
change mover. Human-made landscape grew rapidly and a variety of crops
developed from 1870. However, in the 1950s the agricultural frontier of Besuki
was closed, as indicated by the decreasing percapita land ownership, the
escalating conflicts over lands, and the outgoing migration. This development
was also inseparable from the growing environmental consciousness demanding the
stoppage of the uncontrolled forest conversion which was also environmentally
dangerous for running agricultural activities.
Penulis: Nawiyanto
Kode Jurnal: jpantropologidd120082
