Balinese Life
Local Fruits in Daily Balinese Life

Fred and Margaret Eiseman, an anthropologist couple from the US who have done intensive research on social studies, creatively collect several fruits through their books: "Fruits of Bali". At least, they record some 39 common fruits. Some are originated from overseas and entered Indonesia or Bali during the colonial era hundreds years ago, fruit imported from Java like manalagi apple, while the rest are native fruits to Bali. Interestingly, they also made their time to note the market day of some traditional market across Bali.

Other than being intended for consumption, local fruits significantly support some cultural and ritual activities of the community. The Hindus in Bali celebrate various festivities and hold some rites throughout the year. Many fruits are required to fill in their offerings presented to God. When farmers perform the miseh oblation at the time when their rice in delicate condition, they also present some acid fruits like starfruit, kaliasem (Eugeniapolycephala), Otaheite apple and so forth. It’s also analogised to pregnant woman condition that need sour fruit to strengthen the position of their womb. Meanwhile, farmers at particular times take the badung, probably the sourest local fruit, to relieve itch on the legs due to faeces of ducks, during the shepherding season in post harvest time at the rice field. Penjor, another ritual paraphernalia made of bamboo pole, is embellished with decorative cuts of young coconut leaf, dry cakes, fruits and tubers. It conveys the sincere gratitude of devotees on the grace bestowed within the last six months. This complete penjor or pole, is at all times erected beside the house compound’s entrance gate on the six-monthly Galungan feast day. Then uriaga, the offering in the ngaben ceremony is also in need of some local fruits like mangosteen, kesemek (Diospyros kaki), pineapple, bilva and so forth. These fruits are not necessarily ripe, but they can be in younger condition. Since the ngaben ceremony is held at any time, these fruits are prepared in the dried ones and customarily already available at the shop that exclusively provides pengabenan paraphernalia. Local fruits are also used in the combination of aesthetic and devotion context, like in gebogan. It’s an alluring arrangement of assorted fruits, cakes and nice and colourful flowers in a conical structure. Even, it’s also completed with canangsari offering on top and grilled chicken or omelette. Such a gebogan is presented on a temple festival, rites of passage or carried on a mapeed procession. The latter assuredly creates a dazzling spectacle and tempts everyone who observes it. Woman in sublime Balinese costume who balance it on their heads, walk elegantly and sway their hips gracefully just like a model on catwalk. Events as this can be seen regularly on the opening parade of the annual Bali Arts Festival habitually held during June-July. Some Balinese food delicacies similarly take advantage of young fruits such as papaya, jackfruit, seedy banana and breadnut or even young coconut shell. The most favourite food using these ingredients, are called lawar. It comprises minced meat, finely sliced and boiled ingredients and seasoned with Balinese complete spices. Now, such a food can be obtained at hundreds of local restaurants or food stalls throughout Bali. From one region to another, it may offer a slightly different flavour. In the midst of globalisation as today, many imported fruits have penetrated the local markets such as kiwi fruit, pear, crispy apple, red and green grape, Sunkist, dragon fruit and so on. However, it selectively interchanged the function of local fruits as found in the gebogan, while for other ritual needs remain immutable and utilize the local ones. Uniquely, local fruits have also the same opportunity to be presented in a wider domain. In hotels for instance, they are arranged nicely in a fruit basket being composed of snakefruit, rambutan, pineapple, mangosteen et cetera to be provided to guests. (BTN/029)

Badung to Encourage the Agricultural Sector

The intention of Badung government is to promote its agricultural sector after the fall of tourism seems to continue. The Badung Regent, Mr. A.A. Gede Agung, plans to further develop the agricultural sector in his region. For that purpose, he established small teams to perform comparative studies with other regions. These teams also involves journalists so the inputs on this sector will be increasingly perfect.

Destination of this comparative study is Bogor, West Java. When visiting the Mekar Sari Fruit Plantation, the regent was so amazed. "Whereas the climate and soil condition are not far different from ours in Badung," he says. The Mekar Sari Fruit Plantation is managed by the "Purna Bakti Pertiwi Foundation" with the extent of 614 hectares. Such ex-rubber plantation is not only conjured up into green land producing assorted fruits of high quality, but is also capable of surprisingly penetrating the world market. A variety of local fruits with supreme quality are produced here. According to Division Head of Plantation Development, Dr. M. Rizal, nearly all plants cultivated here are belonging to local varieties. "We have 740 varieties of local fruits amongst the 30 thousands existing plants," he explains. For durian only, his collection makes up 46 kinds starting from the fist-size up to the size of buffalo’s head. Also its flavour and colour has an enormous variety. As a matter of fact, regions across this archipelago are really rich in local plants. However, due to lacking of technological touch and seriousness, its product has not been satisfied yet. On the contrary, other countries take advantage the local fruits of Indonesia to be developed further. For example, durian, guava and some other fruits are now imported by Indonesia. Originally, these are local fruits of Indonesia. "Thoroughly, we’re far left behind," he explains.

Optimistic
Badung is determined not to be left behind. So, when the regent pays a visit together with the group to the Mekar Sari Fruit Plantation, which is at times also used as recreational park, he is optimistic that the Badung Regency has the capability to develop its agricultural land professionally. "We have reliable farmers. It just needs how re-organizing them," he says while mentioning the Petang territory (in Northern Badung) having a cool climate and which has pioneered as an agro-tourism area with orange commodities. Still in the Northern Badung territory, it’s now being developed into agro-tourism area extending 20 hectares. Its production has indeed not been seen yet but its expectation has been obvious. Let’s wait! (BTN/lit)